DIII-D National Fusion Facility

Happy #FusionEnergyWeek! DIII-D is ready to open our doors & celebrate the exciting progress toward commercial fusion being made here, as scientists & engineers solve key challenges across fusion science & tech. Sign up for a virtual tour on 5/6 or 5/7: bit.ly/4buHLfU

Why do some fusion approaches produce only small instabilities, not large damaging bursts of energy? Scientists from @Livermore_Lab found that high density in the plasma edge produced pressure spikes that burst small instabilities, preventing their growth. science.osti.gov/fes/Highlights…

DIII-D was honored to host @RepMikeLevin at our facility. Throughout the visit, we showcased many of the ways in which DIII-D is executing on the U.S. Fusion Roadmap established by @Energy, pioneering science and technology advances along the path to commercial fusion. #fusion

In our labs, the team develops materials, technologies, & diagnostics that drive our cutting-edge work. The DiMES lab provides essential support for reactor-relevant testing of materials developed for use in future commercial devices. bit.ly/4vHpNQx #WorldLaboratoryDay

We were pleased to show Secretary Wright how DIII-D continues to innovate and accelerate the path to fusion, benefitting from the technical expertise and efficiency brought to its operation by @GeneralAtomics – the first private fusion company in the US.

DIII-D was honored to host the U.S. Secretary of @ENERGY, Under Secretary for Science, and @ARPAE Director for a look at our exciting progress in closing key gaps for #fusionenergy. Highlights included AI integration & DIII-D digital twin, materials, diagnostics, heating & more!

Exciting news: Zapdos, the first of 2 gyrotrons from @Kyotofusioneer capable of producing microwaves at 3 frequencies, is installed! This team effort is part of a larger expansion, improving our commercially relevant capabilities supporting progress to fusion energy production.

We’re combining our facility data with HPC & physics modeling to build an interactive digital twin of DIII-D. Pairing with our operating facility allows AI-based tool validation & more informed experimentation, leading to faster breakthroughs for #fusion. bit.ly/4sgUdqE

Join us TOMORROW at the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering at Petco Park! This free public event is an annual tradition for us - we love getting to share our passion for STEM with everyone who attends. Booth GS16 Stage show: 2:15PM bit.ly/4lhRFpJ @LoveSTEMSD

Andy Rothstein, a grad student at @Princeton, recently tested an AI-enabled controller for plasma heating. It modulates gyrotron operation & microwave injection to control where heating occurs. Stabilization of multiple plasma instabilities simultaneously will be tested next.

Plasmas in tokamaks can release potentially damaging bursts of energy. Scientists from @Livermore_Lab combined experimental data & physics simulations to identify an approach to suppress these bursts by controlling the density of the plasma edge. science.osti.gov/fes/Highlights… @ENERGY

Welcome @maritimefusion! They are developing low power density tokamaks for use in remote installations. At DIII-D, Maritime Fusion will explore power exhaust & divertor scenarios to answer key physics questions for their compact tokamak design. #fusionenergy

Sign-up now! Get a closer look at the fusion science & tech we're advancing and learn more about what our team members do at DIII-D. Virtual & in-person tours offered during Fusion Energy Week (May 4-10). Advanced registration required: forms.office.com/g/3QutVaLaqX

Congratulations to George, our Senior Director of Operations!

Zhoujie Yu, a @UCSD grad student, recently evaluated chromium at DIII-D. She is assessing erosion & fuel retention, building on work by UCSD & @GeneralAtomics at POSEIDON. This will provide critical data on chromium's potential in actively cooled systems for fusion devices.

We extend our deepest condolences for the truly tragic loss of a beloved Director, Professor Nuno Loureiro. His scientific achievements in solar, astrophysical and fusion science; attention to students & colleagues; and engaging & warm persona will forever be fondly remembered.

Excited to be starting our FY2026 research campaign! Over the next year, we'll be running experiments on a variety of topics to continue closing key fusion science & technology gaps. We're excited to see how our continuing work moves the entire field closer to commercialization.

Congrats to Prof. Livia Casali, a long-time DIII-D user, former @GeneralAtomics scientist, and now @UTKnoxville faculty member, on receiving the 2025 Katherine E. Weimer Award from @apsphysics! Her work advances plasma boundary physics and fusion science. bit.ly/4p7Hbu6

Fusion materials innovation in action! 🔥 At APS-DPP, Maria Morbey from DIFFER shared DIII-D research showing that 3D-printed CPS structures can safely contain liquid lithium under intense divertor conditions. @APSphysics

Today and every day, we’re thankful for the growing community of international researchers who come to DIII-D to advance fusion science. Our team is proud to support public programs and private industry as we work together toward a clean-energy future powered by fusion.