Glass sensors being developed to withstand fusion environment

Led by Bangor University in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, the researchers will identify whether glass sensors developed in 1960s could function in the extreme conditions of a nuclear fusion reaction. If not, the researchers will design and develop new glass sensors.

In December 2022, researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) delivered a net energy gain after attaining fusion ignition at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility . However, the move from experimental reactions to commercial power generation will require reliable monitoring in a fusion environment that can reach temperatures of 150-200 million degrees Centigrade and is populated with highly energetic fast-moving neutrons.

One way of monitoring a fusion reaction is to count the number of neutrons it gives off using scintillators that create a sparkle of light when struck by a neutron. By counting the flashes of light, it’s possible to calculate the number of neutrons and the amount of energy being produced, which helps to ensure everything is working properly.