In the quest for the energy of the future, nuclear fusion represents the Holy Grail for physicists and engineers. Today, this quest takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a powerful ally: artificial intelligence (AI). EUROfusion, the European institution responsible for coordinating research into nuclear fusion, is betting big on this technology, and for good reason.
AI has already distinguished itself in this complex area. In January 2022, an MIT team developed a turbulence model using deep learning, paving the way for a better understanding of plasma behavior in reactors. At the same time, in Europe, experts from Fusion for Energy (F4E) have been working for more than two years on a pilot project using AI to predict weld defects in the vacuum chamber of the ITER reactor.
These successes are just the tip of the iceberg. EUROfusion has identified many areas where AI could significantly accelerate progress. Among them, improving our understanding of the dynamics of charged particles in magnetic fields, mitigating disruptive events that can interrupt the fusion reaction, analyzing material erosion in the vacuum chamber, and rapid data processing for real-time reactor control.
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EUROfusion has launched 15 AI projects to advance nuclear fusion.
Faced with these titanic challenges, EUROfusion has launched no fewer than 15 research projects focused on AI. Sara Moradi, Head of the EUROfusion Program Management Unit, highlights the importance of this approach: “Machine learning and AI are powerful tools that allow us to extract knowledge from data, identify models and suggest control schemes that would be too computationally expensive with traditional computer models.”
This bold strategy draws on decades of accumulated experimental data in the field of fusion. The objective is clear: to identify the optimal methods for understanding and controlling the fusion reaction. If this bet succeeds, we could see fusion reactors producing electricity much sooner than current predictions lead us to hope.
However, the path to controlled nuclear fusion remains strewn with pitfalls. The technical challenges are colossal, ranging from controlling plasma at temperatures higher than those of the Sun, to designing materials capable of withstanding these extreme conditions. This is precisely where AI could make a difference, by offering innovative solutions to previously insoluble problems.
EUROfusion’s commitment to AI is not limited to the technology itself. The institution recognizes the crucial importance of involving experts in data science and artificial intelligence in the project. This interdisciplinary approach could well be the key to unlocking the last technological barriers that separate us from commercial nuclear fusion.
If this marriage between AI and nuclear fusion comes to fruition, the implications could be revolutionary. A clean, secure and virtually inexhaustible source of energy could become a reality, radically transforming our energy landscape and providing a sustainable solution to the climate challenges we face.
As the world eagerly watches the progress of projects like ITER, AI labs may be where the future of nuclear fusion lies. EUROfusion took a bold gamble, but if history has taught us one thing, it is that great scientific advances often arise from the unexpected intersection of different disciplines. The alliance between AI and nuclear fusion could well be the next chapter in this fascinating story.