San Diego Engineers Complete International Agreement with UKAEA to Advance Fusion Energy Research
SAN DIEGO (May 20, 2025)—Engineers at General Atomics (GA) have reached a key milestone, completing the final shipment of critical corrugated waveguide components to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Culham Campus. The delivery supports an upgrade to the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade machine, a next-generation fusion experiment that will soon test the novel plasma heating method called Electron Bernstein Wave (EBW) heating.
EBW heating uses electromagnetic waves to boost and direct charged particles inside the plasma, the superheated state of matter required for nuclear fusion. Fusion energy is the same process that powers the sun, but to make the same method work on Earth, researchers need to heat plasma upwards of 100 million degrees Celsius—much hotter than the center of the sun. MAST Upgrade will help evaluate the efficiency of the EBW technique, with the goal of improving plasma heating methods for future fusion power plants. For GA, the shipment marks the completion of a multi-year contract and highlights the company’s role as one of the world’s premier manufacturers of fusion technology components.
“We are more than thrilled to deliver these final waveguide components for the MAST Upgrade transmission line,” said Wayne Solomon, vice president of Magnetic Fusion Energy for the General Atomics Energy Group. “GA and UKAEA have enjoyed a strong, longstanding partnership, and we look forward to the opportunity to collaborate again in the future. The end of this project also shows that GA has the knowhow and capabilities to deliver top-of-the-line, highly advanced fusion materials and technologies to our customers not just within the United States, but also across the globe.”
The corrugated waveguides—precisely engineered metallic tubes with ridged inner surfaces—play a crucial role in fusion energy systems. They carry high-power radiofrequency waves from sources like gyrotrons to the plasma within a tokamak, enabling efficient energy transfer. When plasma particles are heated and pressurized to the right conditions, they begin to fuse, releasing enormous amounts of energy. The MAST Upgrade machine is based on the original MAST machine, which ran from 2000 to 2013. It was reengineered to enable higher performance – longer pulses, increased heating power and a stronger magnetic field – and an innovative new plasma exhaust system.
“We were pleased to work with General Atomics to support us in expanding the capabilities of our MAST Upgrade machine,” said Paul Stevenson, head of Tokamak Engineering Systems at UKAEA. “The new EBW heating system will enable UKAEA scientists, and scientists from around the world, to increase their plasma physics knowledge to support the commercialization of fusion energy.”
Researchers have long believed that fusion energy could one day provide a nearly endless supply of clean electricity without the long-lasting waste of traditional nuclear (fission) power. General Atomics is a global leader in fusion technology development and manufacturing. Based in San Diego, the company operates the DIII-D National Fusion Facility for the U.S. Department of Energy—the only operating tokamak in the United States. GA engineers and scientists work closely with international research teams to design and deliver advanced fusion materials and technologies, including waveguides and other custom-built components essential for reactor development to companies worldwide.
“We’re extremely proud of our team’s expertise and innovation,” said James Anderson, manager of the RF Technology Group for the General Atomics Energy Group. “This marks an important step in reducing risk for high-power microwave systems in future fusion power plants. We’re confident the upcoming tests at MAST Upgrade will be successful and will move us closer to practical fusion energy.”
About General Atomics
Since the dawn of the atomic age, General Atomics innovations have advanced the state of the art across the full spectrum of science and technology – from nuclear energy and defense to medicine and high-performance computing. Behind a talented global team of scientists, engineers, and professionals, GA’s unique experience and capabilities continue to deliver safe, sustainable, economical, and innovative solutions to meet growing global demands.
Media Contact:
Andrew James
Communications Lead
General Atomics Energy Group
andrew.james@ga.com