15 January 2025

Collaboration between industry and academia powers ITER’s HRNS Development

The HRNS is being developed through an international partnership involving ITER, Uppsala University, Fagerström Industrikonsult, the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Poland, and the Italian National Research Council. This collaboration brings together expertise from diverse fields to advance fusion research.

A CAD rendering of the HRNS diagnostic system located in the port cell of an equatorial port (#01). The system's four neutron spectrometers are installed within two large shielding enclosures (opened cuboids in the figure). Uncollided neutrons escaping the plasma are guided toward the spectrometers through a 40-millimetre-in-diameter collimator, for precise measurements in the core of the plasma”.

As the consortium prepares for preliminary design reviews, the collaboration exemplifies how partnerships between academic institutions, industry leaders, and global organisations like ITER can push the boundaries of technology and science. This cutting-edge diagnostic system, essential for ITER’s mission, represents a significant technological achievement.

At the heart of the project lies a seamless integration of advanced scientific research and high-tech industrial expertise. The HRNS system, featuring four unique spectrometers, combines innovative design and engineering to deliver precise neutron measurements, crucial for plasma performance and fusion research.

"The HRNS project exemplifies what can be achieved when organisations from different countries combine their knowledge and efforts,” says Bruno Coriton, HRNS Project Coordinator at ITER. “This diagnostic system will be instrumental to ITER’s goals of achieving high-power fusion energy.”

Boosts Sweden’s competitiveness

Max Collins, from Big Science Sweden and Swedish Industrial Liaison Officer for ITER, highlights the broader significance: “The engagement of Swedish companies and research groups in Big Science projects like ITER not only drives innovation but also boosts Sweden’s competitiveness in cutting-edge fusion technology.”