Integrated commissioning of JT-60SA begins after hardware upgrades

National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)/JT-60SA

Testing of newly installed equipment commenced on February 27, 2026, verifying that diagnostic systems, heating equipment, and plasma control systems work as an integrated unit. Integrated commissioning marks the transition from assembly to physics operations, with teams preparing for plasma heating experiments.

• New measurement systems include Thomson scattering, X-ray spectrometers and vacuum ultraviolet instruments
• Eight upgraded neutral beam injectors ready for heating plasma to fusion-relevant temperatures
• Commissioning follows a staged approach: room-temperature systems first, then vacuum conditions, finally magnet cooling and energization
• Plasma heating campaign expected to begin at year-end and run for approximately six months