Mast Upgrade

MAST upgrade (MAST-U) is a nuclear fusion experiment conducted by the United Kingdom. It is based on the original MAST (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) machine, which remained operational from 2000 to 2013. MAST was later rebuilt as MAST-U for improving the machine’s performance. The objective of MAST-U is to study plasma conditions applicable to ITER and provide commercially viable nuclear fusion power.

Researchers at MAST-U have used divertor (a kind of heat exhaust system) called Super-X to minimise exhaust heat load on the reactor walls by ten-fold. If this can be utilised for operationalizing fusion reactors, there is a minimal need to regularly change exhaust material and other components.