Speaker: Brandon Sorbom, from Commonwealth Fusion Systems

Title: Next-generation Superconducting Magnets for Fusion Energy 

Abstract: The key performance metrics in magnetically-confined fusion devices called tokamaks scale as the strength of the toroidal magnetic field to the fourth power. One of the most important consequences of these scalings is that increasing the magnetic field in a tokamak enables a much smaller device to demonstrate net-energy production, leading to dramatic reductions in cost, timeline, and organizational complexity required to construct and operate the fusion device. Following the successful demonstration of a large-bore, 20 T, high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet in 2021, a commercially-relevant, energy-breakeven tokamak called SPARC has begun construction in Devens, MA. A power plant called ARC will follow, with the aim of putting fusion electricity on the grid in the early 2030’s. This talk will explain why high-field HTS magnets are a game changer for fusion energy, how the recent 20 T magnet demonstration has opened up the path for Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) to build the next generation of fusion devices, and the challenges which were overcome in the development of this technology.

Bio: Brandon Sorbom co-founded CFS with the goal of commercializing fusion energy in time to combat climate change by developing innovative high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. He currently serves as Chief Science Officer leading the R&D efforts of the company. Under his leadership, CFS is the world’s leading buyer of the HTS material that goes into the magnets. A regular scientific presenter and academic speaker, Sorbom earned a BS in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics from Loyola Marymount University and a PhD in Nuclear Science and Engineering from MIT. While working on his PhD at MIT, Sorbom was the lead author of the paper that proposed the original design for ARC that inspired the founding of CFS in 2018 and was named a “35 Under 35” Honoree from MIT Technology Review.

This talk will be offered in a hybrid format. If you wish to participate remotely, please send an email to [email protected].