The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has achieved record plasma pressure in its MAST Upgrade fusion machine during its fifth experimental series, overcoming critical instability challenges. The experiments, conducted at Culham Campus, produced over 1,100 plasmas between 2025 and 2026, demonstrating stable operation at unprecedented pressures without destabilization. Key advancements include novel techniques to suppress Edge Localised Modes (ELMs), using Quasi-Continuous Exhaust (QCE) mode and Resonant Magnetic Perturbations (RMP). The team also accessed stable regimes like Quiescent H-mode and I-mode, improving energy confinement. A world-first method using light emissions to control plasma position was developed, advancing automated fusion control systems. These results, shared with the international fusion community, support the design of future power plants like STEP and ITER. Upcoming upgrades will enhance the machine’s heating capacity and enable further STEP-relevant research.
© Crown copyright, 2024, GOV.UK.
Summary adapted from content licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
For details, see https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/.
Original source: https://www.gov.uk/
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