World's largest fusion reactor diverter braves asteroid-level heat

The article discusses the successful development and certification of a prototype outer vertical target for the divertor of the ITER fusion reactor, the world’s largest nuclear fusion project under construction in Southern France. The divertor acts as the reactor’s exhaust system and is the only component that directly contacts the plasma, playing a crucial role in maintaining fusion stability by removing fuel residue and helium ash. Developed through a collaboration between Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and Hitachi, the divertor prototype is designed to withstand extreme conditions, including heat loads up to 20 megawatts per square meter and electromagnetic forces of approximately 16.5 tons, using specialized materials such as tungsten and high-strength copper alloys. The manufacturing process was highly complex, involving advanced material development, precise machining, specialized welding techniques, and rigorous quality assurance, including high-temperature helium leak testing. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the ITER Project, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy on a large scale. Moving