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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDJournal of Plasma Physics

Overview of the physics basis for the ARC fusion power plant

  • J. C. Hillesheim1
  • Alexander J. Creely1
  • Thomas H. Eich1
  • Nathan T. Howard2
  • N. Leuthold3
  • R. Sweeney1
  • Alexandra LeViness1
  • Andrew O. Nelson3
  • Leon Nichols2
  • R. A. Tinguely2
  • Maria Usoltseva1
  • D. Battaglia1
8 more authors
  • Thomas A.J. Body1
  • Christopher J. Hansen3
  • N.C. Logan3
  • R. Mumgaard1
  • Pablo Rodriguez-Fernandez2
  • P.B. Snyder1
  • Brandon N. Sorbom1
  • John C. Wright2
  1. 1Commonwealth Fusion Systems
  2. 2MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center
  3. 3Columbia University
Open at sourcePDFDOICite

Abstract

Commonwealth Fusion Systems plans to build ARC as the first fusion power plant at a site in Chesterfield County, Virginia, USA by the early 2030s. We present an overview of analysis comprising the physics basis of the ARC V3A design, a high-magnetic-field tokamak with B0=11.4 T , Ip=12.0 MA , R0=4.62 m , a=1.18 m . ARC V3A is designed to produce Pfus ≈ 1.13 GW DT fusion power and deliver geqslant 400 MW net electric power to the grid. This overview includes quantitative analysis of fundamental issues for design of and operational plasma scenarios for a tokamak power plant, and lays out the design targets and strategic choices for ARC, including empirical fusion performance projections, assessment of H-mode access, ion cyclotron resonance heating simulations, alpha particle physics and time-dependent full-pulse simulations. This is complemented by topical papers on fusion performance and transport, disruption physics, boundary physics and magnetohydrodynamic stability. Critically, these studies identify key model uncertainties and physics risks to be retired through SPARC operation. Due to the modular nature of ARC, early results from SPARC can be incorporated into the design of the first ARC as well as subsequent replacements of the ARC vacuum vessel.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{hillesheim2026overview,
  title = {{Overview of the physics basis for the ARC fusion power plant}},
  author = {J. C. Hillesheim and Alexander J. Creely and Thomas H. Eich and Nathan T. Howard and N. Leuthold and R. Sweeney and Alexandra LeViness and Andrew O. Nelson and Leon Nichols and R. A. Tinguely and Maria Usoltseva and D. Battaglia and Thomas A.J. Body and Christopher J. Hansen and N.C. Logan and R. Mumgaard and Pablo Rodriguez-Fernandez and P.B. Snyder and Brandon N. Sorbom and John C. Wright},
  journal = {Journal of Plasma Physics},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1017/s0022377826101706},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022377826101706},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Overview of the physics basis for the ARC fusion power plant
AU  - J. C. Hillesheim
AU  - Alexander J. Creely
AU  - Thomas H. Eich
AU  - Nathan T. Howard
AU  - N. Leuthold
AU  - R. Sweeney
AU  - Alexandra LeViness
AU  - Andrew O. Nelson
AU  - Leon Nichols
AU  - R. A. Tinguely
AU  - Maria Usoltseva
AU  - D. Battaglia
AU  - Thomas A.J. Body
AU  - Christopher J. Hansen
AU  - N.C. Logan
AU  - R. Mumgaard
AU  - Pablo Rodriguez-Fernandez
AU  - P.B. Snyder
AU  - Brandon N. Sorbom
AU  - John C. Wright
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/01
JO  - Journal of Plasma Physics
DO  - 10.1017/s0022377826101706
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022377826101706
AB  - Commonwealth Fusion Systems plans to build ARC as the first fusion power plant at a site in Chesterfield County, Virginia, USA by the early 2030s. We present an overview of analysis comprising the physics basis of the ARC V3A design, a high-magnetic-field tokamak with B_0=11.4 T , I_p=12.0 MA , R_0=4.62 m , a=1.18 m . ARC V3A is designed to produce P_fus ≈ 1.13 GW DT fusion power and deliver geqslant 400 MW net electric power to the grid. This overview includes quantitative analysis of fundamental issues for design of and operational plasma scenarios for a tokamak power plant, and lays out the design targets and strategic choices for ARC, including empirical fusion performance projections, assessment of H-mode access, ion cyclotron resonance heating simulations, alpha particle physics and time-dependent full-pulse simulations. This is complemented by topical papers on fusion performance and transport, disruption physics, boundary physics and magnetohydrodynamic stability. Critically, these studies identify key model uncertainties and physics risks to be retired through SPARC operation. Due to the modular nature of ARC, early results from SPARC can be incorporated into the design of the first ARC as well as subsequent replacements of the ARC vacuum vessel.
SN  - 0022-3778
SN  - 1469-7807
ER  -