HEFEI, China — Chinese scientists announced today they have achieved full domestic production of the core superconducting magnets for the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), a critical step toward the nation’s goal of fusion energy independence. The breakthroughs in manufacturing both the high-field central solenoid and the toroidal field coils eliminate previous reliance on foreign supply chains for these essential components. This development, confirmed by officials at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, positions China to accelerate its ambitious fusion roadmap.

The central solenoid is often described as the backbone of a tokamak, inducing a powerful current within the plasma to initiate, heat, and sustain the fusion reaction. Successfully fabricating this component domestically required mastering the complex production of high-performance niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) superconducting wires and their subsequent high-precision winding and insulation. This achievement represents a significant leap in advanced manufacturing and materials science, as the solenoid must withstand immense electromagnetic forces and cryogenic temperatures.

The central solenoid is often described as the backbone of a tokamak, inducing a powerful current within the plasma to initiate, heat, and sustain the fusion reaction.

Alongside the central solenoid, the team at EAST also localized the entire supply chain for the D-shaped toroidal field (TF) coils. These magnets generate the primary magnetic field that confines the superheated plasma, preventing it from touching the reactor walls. The ability to produce these large, complex structures in-house secures a stable and cost-effective supply for both maintenance of the existing EAST facility and the construction of future, more powerful fusion devices.

This full domestication of the magnet supply chain is a strategic milestone for China's national fusion program. Previously, key superconducting strands and specialized alloys were often sourced from international suppliers, creating potential bottlenecks and dependencies. By internalizing the entire process from raw material refinement to final magnet testing, the program gains greater control over timelines, costs, and technological development, insulating it from global supply chain volatility.

The EAST facility has served as a key platform for these advancements, building on a history of record-breaking plasma performance. In previous experiments, the tokamak achieved a steady-state high-confinement plasma for 1,056 seconds and has consistently pushed the boundaries of long-pulse operation. These operational successes provided the real-world testbed necessary to validate the performance and reliability of the domestically produced magnet components under extreme conditions.

Looking ahead, these newly localized technologies are expected to be foundational for China's next-generation fusion projects. The immediate application will be in the development of the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT), a new platform in Hefei designed to bridge the gap between current experiments and a future fusion power plant. Furthermore, the experience gained will directly inform the design and construction of the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR), a machine intended to demonstrate the engineering feasibility of a commercial-scale fusion reactor.