Enabling Compact Fusion by High-Temperature Superconductor, Siwei Chen, PD (4586699)

Fusion energy is the future of green energy and promises to revolutionize the way we power our world. It has the potential to provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy with zero emissions and minimal waste. To make this a reality, researchers are focusing on developing next-step lower-cost compact fusion reactors. One key component to secure the ultra-hot plasma inside the reactor by strong magnetic field is high-temperature superconductors, such as REBaCuO. REBaCuO is particularly promising because of its high current-carrying capacity and high magnetic-field tolerance, making it an ideal choice for fusion reactors. However, producing large-scale REBCO films and ensuring their quality assurance is a significant challenge. As a researcher in this field, my research involves all aspects of REBaCuO material, including film deposition technique, metrology, and quality control. I have designed and built advanced MOCVD systems for pilot-scale REBCO tape manufacturing. I have also developed several non-destructive, continuous measurement techniques for evaluating long REBaCuO tapes. Currently, I am working on integrating these measurement techniques into the deposition process for inline feedback control to yield longer, more reliable, and more affordable REBCO tapes, which can pave the way for the development of more cost-effective and compact fusion reactors. My work is dedicated to making fusion power a reality. I believe that my efforts towards improving the scalability, efficiency and reliability of REBCO can help unlock the full potential of fusion energy and ultimately lead us towards a cleaner, greener and more sustainable world for all.

Siwei Chen, PD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siweichen + https://cv.chensiwei.space/