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Remote-handling challenges in fusion research and beyond

Energy-producing nuclear fusion reactions taking place in tokamaks cause radiation damage and radioactivity. Remote-handling technology for repairing and replacing in-vessel components has evolved enormously over the past two decades — and is now being deployed elsewhere too.

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Figure 1: Remote-handling systems used to service the JET tokamak.

© UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY

Figure 2: Tokamak blanket segment removal.
Figure 3: Tokamak divertor cassette removal.

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Correspondence to Rob Buckingham or Antony Loving.

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Buckingham, R., Loving, A. Remote-handling challenges in fusion research and beyond. Nature Phys 12, 391–393 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3755

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