The UKAEA’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme aims to demonstrate the ability of low aspect ratio tokamaks to generate net electricity from deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion. As STEP have selected REBCO coated conductor (CC) as the current carrier in most magnet systems, understanding how REBCO CC responds to the energetic p…
The UKAEA’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) program aims to demonstrate the ability of a low aspect ratio tokamak to generate net electricity from deuterium-tritium fusion. Specifically, its aim is to deliver a prototype fusion power plant, targeting 2040, and a path to the commercial viability of fusion, by engaging with and invig…
The reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel Eurofer 97 is employed by many concept designs for the plasma-facing first wall of the EU DEMO fusion reactor. These designs feature precision joints between Eurofer 97 coolant piping for which novel laser-keyhole welding is one proposed technique. In this work, the microstructure of laser-keyhol…
