US-based General Atomics (GA) has released Fusion Synthesis Engine (FUSE) – a state-of-the-art, open-source software designed to help construct fusion power plants. The software is now accessible to anyone under the Apache 2.0 licence, guaranteeing its free usage, modification, and commercialisation.
It is written in Julia, a popular programming language, and combines the key elements needed to develop fusion power such as plasma physics, engineering, and cost analysis, into one easy-to-use system. According to GA, other researchers can easily install and run the program on their own systems, enabling more effective collaboration on fusion energy projects. This approach helps reduce costs and makes it easier to achieve the goal of fusion energy.
By integrating various complex models, researchers can generate simulations that are both faster and more accurate, including how a fusion plant operates in both steady and dynamic conditions.
“Releasing FUSE is a bold and exciting step that offers a powerful tool to the entire fusion community,” said Wayne Solomon, Vice President of Magnetic Fusion Energy for the General Atomics Energy Group. “This platform encourages teamwork and new ideas while fulfilling GA’s commitment to openness and progress. By making FUSE available to everyone, we’re not just advancing our own developments – we’re giving others the ability to build on it, with the goal of accelerating discoveries throughout the entire field.”
Orso Meneghini, a theory and computational science manager at General Atomics Energy Group believes FUSE could have a big impact on the future of fusion energy. “One of its strengths is that it uses machine learning to speed up simulations, making it useful for improving plant designs and reducing uncertainties. Overall, FUSE’s flexibility and generality make it an important tool for advancing research in this critical area of energy research.”
At its San Diego headquarters, GA scientists and engineers work with teams across the country and the world to explore the science needed to make fusion power plants a reality. GA also operates the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, a US Department of Energy (DOE) user facility that houses the only operating fusion reactor (tokamak) in the US.
