Japan’s Kyoto Fusioneering (KF) has agreed to supply two advanced gyrotrons to General Atomics (GA) for the US Department of Energy’s (DOD’s) DIII-D National Fusion Facility in San Diego, California. Scheduled for deployment by 2026, these gyrotrons will be the first from Kyoto Fusioneering to be integrated into the United States’ fusion research infrastructure, following a series of successful global engagements.
The US DIII-D National Fusion Facility is a DOE Office of Science scientific user facility operated by General Atomics in San Diego. It is now undergoing a series of major upgrades to prepare for its next phase of research. Gyrotrons are instrumental in magnetic confinement fusion devices, enabling the stable, highly efficient generation of high-frequency, high-power millimetre waves. These capabilities are fundamental to generating, heating, and maintaining plasma conditions that are critical for fusion reactions. Kyoto Fusioneering says its gyrotrons are at the forefront of this technology.
Keishi Sakamoto, CTO of Kyoto Fusioneering said: “Our advanced gyrotrons will empower the DIII-D facility to push the boundaries of fusion research and accelerate the path to commercialisation.”
DIII-D Director Dr Richard Buttery welcomed the collaboration with Kyoto Fusioneering, which would increase DIII-D’s heating power. “This purchase is part of a broader, continuous effort to keep the facility’s capabilities at the cutting edge of fusion research and meet the needs of the US fusion research community and our global user base.”
In February, Kyoto Fusioneering launched its US subsidiary in Seattle. The expansion is part of the company’s ongoing effort to bring its expertise in critical plant technologies to the forefront of the fusion energy ecosystem in the US and to foster closer collaborations to drive technological advancements within the industry.
