Year 13 Physics Fusion Trip

Year 13 physicists journeyed to the UK Atomic Energy Authority institute at Culham Science Centre to learn and investigate the future of fusion and how it is being delivered as a new technology to the world. Our physicists had the great privilege of touring its development and testing facilities which are home to the Joint European Torus (JET) fusion reactor. Students were able to view inside a tokamak octant to observe maintenance through a remotely handled robotic arm, as well as take in the sight of the world record-breaking JET fusion reactor before it will be fully decommissioned. A welcomed sighting was a Boston Dynamics quadruped robot that was mapping radiation sources around the decommissioned reactor and what happened to be the world’s second largest door! Additionally, students received and participated in an insightful seminar on the theory, structure, and deployment of tokamak reactors and how the UKAEA intends to expand and continue its endeavours. This provided our physicists with the valuable opportunity to ask questions and gain an understanding of just how momentous fusion power will be to the world.

Fergus J, Year 13