【Frontiers of HaiChuan Technology】The superconducting linear plasma device at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been built and put into operation

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On January 14, 2025, the **Research Platform for the Interaction between Plasma and Materials in Diverters**, a key subsystem of the major scientific and technological infrastructure \"Key Systems of Fusion Reactor Hosts\", which is developed and operated by the Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, completed its testing. The key facility of this platform—the superconducting linear plasma device—has been fully built and put into operation. According to on-site tests conducted by the expert team, this device features a particle flux of over 1024 particles per square meter per second, a single discharge duration of more than 1000 seconds, and a maximum central magnetic field of over 3 tesla; it is thus the linear plasma device with the highest overall performance parameters in the world at present. The divertor is the component that will face the harshest operating conditions inside future fusion reactor cores, and the performance evolution of its materials under plasma bombardment is crucial for the safe operation of such reactors. Superconducting linear plasma devices can generate high-density plasma stably and continuously, significantly improving the efficiency of testing deflector materials. With the help of this device, researchers are able to simulate the harsh environment and extreme conditions found in fusion reactor diverters, thereby conducting in-depth studies on the performance of materials under the combined effects of high heat flux and intense particle flux. This provides critical and reliable data support for the selection of wall materials and the optimization of components in future fusion reactors. According to the researchers, the establishment of the superconducting linear plasma device provides first-class experimental conditions for the research and testing of fusion reactor wall materials and components, as well as a top-tier research platform for related fields such as materials science and plasma physics both domestically and internationally.