Multimedia

Introduction to Fusion

April 10, 2022

Could fusion, the process that fuels the sun and stars, be a source of plentiful, clean, carbon-free energy on earth? Learn how fusion occurs, and what researchers around the world are doing to understand the process, and to harness its potential. Narrated by Plasma Science and Fusion Center research scientist Pablo Rodriguez-Fernandez.

Topics: Richard Petrasso

Exploring why this nuclear breakthrough matters

November 5, 2021

In this episode of Undecided, after providing a primer on fusion and fission, Matt Ferrell interviews the PSFC's Deputy Director Martin Greenwald about the fusion breakthrough at MIT. 

Image of star formation

PODCAST: Fusion: Can we recreate the renewable power of stars down on Earth?

November 5, 2021

Researchers around the world are trying to figure out if we can recreate the fusion process of the sun here on Earth. If scientists can pull it off, the payoff could be huge: A deep understanding of stellar physics could one day lead to a virtually unlimited supply of clean energy. To discover just how, in this NOVA podcast Dr. Alok Patel hears from PSFC Director Dennis Whyte. The section about MIT's latest contributions to fusion research starts at 12:30.

20T magnet Demo Event Highlights, MIT

Highlights of the MIT-CFS 20T Magnet Demo event

September 24, 2021

On Sunday, September 5, 2021, a large-bore, high temperature superconducting magnet designed and built by CFS and MIT reached a field of 20 tesla. It paves the way to building SPARC and commercializing fusion energy. These are highlights from the Live-Streamed 20 Tesla HTS Magnet Demo Event

Star in a bottle, MIT

A Star in a Bottle: The Quest for Commercial Fusion

September 8, 2021

On Sept. 5, 2021, for the first time, a large high-temperature superconducting electromagnet was ramped up to a field strength of 20 tesla, the most powerful magnetic field of its kind ever created on Earth. That successful demonstration by the PSFC and CFS helps resolve the greatest uncertainty in the quest to build the world’s first fusion power plant that can produce more power than it consumes.

HTS Magnet, MIT

Unlocking SPARC: HTS Magnet for Commercial Fusion Applications

September 8, 2021

An animation of how the high temperature superconducting (HTS) fusion magnet built by MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS)was tested. Reaching a field of 20 tesla, it is the most powerful superconducting magnet in the world and a key technology in SPARC, a compact, high-field tokamak that will produce net energy from fusion.

Dennis Whyte, MIT

PODCAST: Game-changing fusion

February 10, 2019

Dennis Whyte spoke with Frank O'Sullivan of the MIT Energy Initiative on the history and future of fusion. "MIT’s goal is, like all of this work that we’ve done, to establish the scientific and technical pinnings of fusion be out there in the real world,  says Dennis Whyte.

Alex Creely, MIT

Alex Creely: Bridging the gap between simulation and reality

September 25, 2017

In his third year at MIT, Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) graduate student Alex Creely has figured out enough about the hot, turbulent plasmas necessary for creating fusion energy that his research has been honored with an Innovations in Fuel Cycle Research Award, offered by the Office of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Technology R&D of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Leigh Ann Kesler, MIT

Leigh Ann Kesler: Tracking erosion happening inside fusion devices

September 25, 2017

NSE PhD student, Leigh Ann Kesler who studies at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, dates her interest in fusion from an 11th-grade persuasive writing assignment. Inspired in part by her father’s interest in the potential of nuclear energy, she decided to investigate fusion.

Monica Pham, MIT

Monica Pham: Advancing nuclear power and empowering girls

September 25, 2017

When she was 16, Monica Pham mapped out her future. “My chemistry teacher was talking about how atoms could generate unlimited power,” recalls Pham. “I asked her what kind of person worked in this field, and when she said a nuclear engineer, I decided that’s what I wanted to be.”

Brandon Sorbom, Leigh-Ann Kessler, MIT

All things nuclear

December 9, 2016

MIT engineers play the long game because sometimes it can take decades to come up with a solution that works. Nuclear science and engineering is one of our longest bets, but its possible payoffs could save the planet. Now, after 50 years of effort, the prospect of sustainable fusion power looks like it could be achieved in our lifetimes.

Alcator C-Mod 360 degree video tour

July 21, 2016

Take a 360 degree video tour of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, the fusion experiment at MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center.

ARC

Breakthrough in Fusion?

March 8, 2016

PSFC Director, Dennis Whyte spoke at the MIT Club of Northern California — Nuclear fusion is the holy grail of energy generation because by fusing two hydrogen atoms together into a single helium atom it releases enormous amounts of energy, yet represents a clean, safe, sustainable and secure form of power.

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