China Achieves 100% Domestically Produced Nuclear Fusion Superconducting Magnets in 'Artificial Sun' Breakthrough

China has achieved a significant milestone in nuclear fusion energy development, with two independently developed superconducting magnet systems for fusion reactors successfully passing technical acceptance and full-condition testing, achieving 100% domestic production across all core components. The Institute of Plasma Physics at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, announced on June 27 that both the toroidal field superconducting magnet and the high-temperature superconducting central solenoid coil had completed rigorous testing with performance reaching international leading levels. The toroidal field superconducting magnet — shaped like the letter "D" — measures 21 meters long, 12 meters wide, and 3.

3 meters tall, with a total weight of 582 tons. Compared to the same type of magnet used in international fusion reactor projects, it is 1.3 times larger in volume and stores three times more energy, making it the world's largest fusion reactor superconducting magnet ever built.

Sixteen identical toroidal field magnets will eventually be assembled to form a complete toroidal magnetic field, generating a 6.5-tesla magnetic field at center with a 100 kA operating current per coil. Researcher Wu Yu from the institute explained that the magnet's function is to confine plasma within the vacuum chamber, preventing contact with the walls.

The magnetic field strength is directly linked to the temperature and density requirements of the plasma needed for sustained fusion reactions. On the same day, the high-temperature superconducting central solenoid coil successfully passed full-condition parameter testing, demonstrating stable current carrying of 60 kA and energy storage of 6.03 megajoules.

Institute Deputy Director Qin Jinggang emphasized that the coil achieves complete domestic production in superconducting materials, structural design, and fabrication processes. The central solenoid's core role is to induce and drive plasma current whil