5,500 superconducting wires tested for world's largest fusion reactor

Scientists at Durham University have completed a comprehensive quality verification program for over 5,500 superconducting wire samples destined for the ITER fusion reactor, the world’s largest nuclear fusion project. The wires, made from Niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) and Niobium-titanium (Nb–Ti), will be used to construct powerful magnets that create a magnetic cage to confine plasma heated to over 150 million degrees Celsius. The team performed around 13,000 measurements, developing a reliable statistical quality control method that overcomes challenges posed by the heat treatment process required to make Nb3Sn wires superconducting. This method involves testing adjacent wire strands in different labs to ensure manufacturing consistency and accuracy, providing a cost-effective solution for global supply chain quality assurance. The ITER project, a collaboration of 35 nations, aims to demonstrate fusion energy at an industrial scale as a clean and virtually limitless power source. The success of ITER heavily depends on the verified quality of these superconducting wires. Durham