Oxford Sigma is delighted to share highlights from its recent participation in the Microwave in Beams and Plasma Workshop, held at the University of York from January 6th to 8th 2025. The event brought together experts from universities, national laboratories, and industry to discuss cutting-edge advancements in plasma heating, current drive, and microwave technologies.
Plasma heating and current drive, achieved through the precise absorption of electromagnetic radiation, remain at the forefront of efforts to minimize tokamak plasma turbulence. These advancements hold the promise of enabling steady-state operations in future fusion power plants.
At the workshop, Oxford Sigma presented its innovative work conducted within the Embedded Engineering Framework. Specifically, the project focused on advancing microwave optic development for the Fusion Futures programme working on ITER Equatorial EC Launcher Concept Designs.
By integrating engineering best practices and expertise in microwave beam propagation, Oxford Sigma has contributed to the development of robust optics for microwave beam steering and launcher designs. The project utilised Ansys Zemax for Gaussian beam ray tracing, enabling the exploration of electron cyclotron launcher and mirror configurations. Through workflow automation and optimization algorithms, the team calculated optical parameters to achieve high transmission efficiency and a resilient mirror system.
Beyond presenting its ongoing innovations, the workshop provided a unique platform to engage with the wider fusion community. It facilitated meaningful connections and fostered collaborative opportunities between the microwave and materials science fields, further strengthening the interdisciplinary approach required for fusion advancements.
Oxford Sigma remains committed to driving innovation in fusion technologies and looks forward to continued contributions to the development of sustainable energy solutions.
“The development of high-performance microwave technology for devices like ITER is crucial for enabling viable fusion power. Collaborating with UKAEA under the Fusion Futures Program highlights the importance of advancing UK industry and supports Oxford Sigma’s mission to commercialise fusion energy.”
~Gabriel Blackett, Graduate Engineer, Oxford Sigma
About UK Atomic Energy Authority
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the UK’s national organisation responsible for the research and delivery of sustainable fusion energy. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Fusion energy has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come. It is based on the same processes that power the Sun and stars, and would form part of the world’s future energy mix. Achieving this is a major technical challenge that involves working at the forefront of science, engineering, and technology. UKAEA’s programmes include the MAST-Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) fusion experiment and the JET (Joint European Torus) fusion research facility. JET is operated by UKAEA at its Culham Campus near Oxford, on behalf of EUROfusion scientists and engineers. STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is UKAEA’s ambitious programme to accelerate the delivery of fusion energy, with plans to deliver a prototype powerplant producing net electricity in the 2040s in Nottinghamshire. In 2021, UKAEA opened its Fusion Technology Facility near Rotherham in South Yorkshire, to develop and test materials and components for future fusion powerplants. UKAEA also undertakes cutting edge work with academia, other research organisations and the industrial supply chain in a wide spectrum of areas, including robotics and materials.
More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial
About Oxford Sigma Oxford Sigma is an advanced materials fusion technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader and is headquartered in Oxford, UK.
Get in touch at [email protected]. Social Media: @OxfordSigma