https://blog.nextfusion.org/ Insights into the fusion energy industry, future fusion power plants, plasma physics, tokamak design, diagnostics and control, machine learning, and reinforcement learning. en Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.nextfusion.org/q2-2026-quarterly-update/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/q2-2026-quarterly-update/ Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Next Step Fusion Q2 2026 quarterly update — company news, product milestones, partner highlights, and what's ahead. https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim-novelty/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim-novelty/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT A summary of the current state of NSFsim, recent updates across its modules, and the next steps on its development roadmap. https://blog.nextfusion.org/karhu-pedestal-model/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/karhu-pedestal-model/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT How KARHU brings ML-speed MHD stability into NSFsim's pedestal workflow https://blog.nextfusion.org/q1-2026-quarterly-update/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/q1-2026-quarterly-update/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Next Step Fusion Q1 2026 quarterly update — company news, product milestones, partner highlights, and what's ahead. https://blog.nextfusion.org/controlling-plasma-temperature-and-safety-factor-with-gyrotrons-using-reinforcement-learning/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/controlling-plasma-temperature-and-safety-factor-with-gyrotrons-using-reinforcement-learning/ Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT In previous blog posts, we have shown how reinforcement learning can be used to control the shape of plasma in a tokamak. In a research paper, we extended this to temperature and safety factor control using gyrotrons. https://blog.nextfusion.org/the-brain-of-fusion-power-plants/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/the-brain-of-fusion-power-plants/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT How to Tame the Energy of the Stars https://blog.nextfusion.org/model-verification-using-nsfsim--plasma-free--vacuum--calculations/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/model-verification-using-nsfsim--plasma-free--vacuum--calculations/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT Plasma-free (Vacuum) Calculations with NSFsim — validating the free-boundary equilibrium and transport solver against vacuum benchmarks. https://blog.nextfusion.org/how-to-measure-plasma-in-fusion-power-plants---part-ii--control-confidently-despite-imperfections/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/how-to-measure-plasma-in-fusion-power-plants---part-ii--control-confidently-despite-imperfections/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT Part II: Control Confidently Despite Imperfections — how fusion power plants handle diagnostic uncertainty to maintain safe plasma control. https://blog.nextfusion.org/how-to-measure-plasma-in-fusion-power-plants---part-i--diagnostics/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/how-to-measure-plasma-in-fusion-power-plants---part-i--diagnostics/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Part I: Diagnostics — an overview of the measurement systems used to monitor plasma in fusion power plants and tokamaks. https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim-perspective-on-disruptions-in-tokamaks---part-ii--simulations-for-dtt/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim-perspective-on-disruptions-in-tokamaks---part-ii--simulations-for-dtt/ Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT Part II: Simulations for DTT — using NSFsim to simulate disruption scenarios in the Divertor Tokamak Test facility. https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim-perspective-on-disruptions-in-tokamaks---part-i--physics-basis/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim-perspective-on-disruptions-in-tokamaks---part-i--physics-basis/ Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT Part I: Physics Basis — the physical mechanisms behind plasma disruptions in tokamaks, explored through NSFsim simulations. https://blog.nextfusion.org/-fusion-is-no-longer-a-thirty-year-question---it-s-now-a-business-race---interview-with-georgy-/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/-fusion-is-no-longer-a-thirty-year-question---it-s-now-a-business-race---interview-with-georgy-/ Mon, 21 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT Recent advances in superconducting magnets, plasma-facing materials, computational modeling, and AI have created a new era for fusion energy. https://blog.nextfusion.org/isttok-tokamak-engineering-adventures/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/isttok-tokamak-engineering-adventures/ Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT Our journey into plasma control on the ISTTOK tokamak using machine learning controllers — experiments, results, and lessons learned. https://blog.nextfusion.org/next-step-fusion-negative-triangularity-tokamak--preliminary-design/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/next-step-fusion-negative-triangularity-tokamak--preliminary-design/ Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT Preliminary design of the Next Step Fusion Negative Triangularity Tokamak — coils, geometry, and engineering parameters. https://blog.nextfusion.org/the-next-wave-of-tokamak-innovations/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/the-next-wave-of-tokamak-innovations/ Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT While the spotlight in fusion research shifts toward new formats and private-sector innovation, tokamaks remain at the forefront of fusion energy development. https://blog.nextfusion.org/6-ways-to-manage-your-fusion-data-with-fusion-twin-platform/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/6-ways-to-manage-your-fusion-data-with-fusion-twin-platform/ Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT Fusion Twin Platform redefines fusion research by offering unparalleled access to precise tokamak simulations and data management tools. https://blog.nextfusion.org/investing-in-tomorrow--a-look-at-fusion-energy-investment-landscape/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/investing-in-tomorrow--a-look-at-fusion-energy-investment-landscape/ Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT The fusion energy sector has experienced significant growth in investments, signaling growing confidence in its potential as a clean energy source. https://blog.nextfusion.org/how-to-control-plasma-in-a-fusion-power-plant-/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/how-to-control-plasma-in-a-fusion-power-plant-/ Thu, 09 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT Fusion Power Plant is the next frontier of clean energy. One of the hardest engineering challenges is controlling the plasma inside it. https://blog.nextfusion.org/applying-a-surrogate-model-to-an-rl-controlled-pulse/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/applying-a-surrogate-model-to-an-rl-controlled-pulse/ Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT After conducting an experiment on the DIII-D tokamak with our Reinforcement Learning model for plasma control, we applied a surrogate model to accelerate training. https://blog.nextfusion.org/designing-a-vacuum-vessel-for-a-negative-triangularity-tokamak/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/designing-a-vacuum-vessel-for-a-negative-triangularity-tokamak/ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT The vacuum vessel is one of the main components of a tokamak. It serves as the primary boundary for maintaining the high-vacuum environment required for plasma. https://blog.nextfusion.org/next-step-fusion-negative-triangularity-tokamak-conceptual-design/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/next-step-fusion-negative-triangularity-tokamak-conceptual-design/ Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT Introducing the conceptual design of the Next Step Fusion Negative Triangularity Tokamak — a compact device targeting high-performance plasma. https://blog.nextfusion.org/next-step-fusion-collaboration-with-the-isttok-tokamak/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/next-step-fusion-collaboration-with-the-isttok-tokamak/ Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT At Next Step Fusion, we're pushing the boundaries to bring our technologies closer to reactor-ready status through collaboration with the ISTTOK tokamak. https://blog.nextfusion.org/developing-an-ml-based-surrogate-model-for-plasma-boundary-prediction/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/developing-an-ml-based-surrogate-model-for-plasma-boundary-prediction/ Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT Achieving precise plasma shape control is essential to fusion experiments. We develop a machine learning surrogate model for fast plasma boundary prediction. https://blog.nextfusion.org/welcome-the-fusion-twin-platform/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/welcome-the-fusion-twin-platform/ Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT We believe NSFsim is brilliant due to its proven physical approach. Now it powers the Fusion Twin Platform — a web tool for tokamak simulation and research. https://blog.nextfusion.org/why-negative-triangularity-/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/why-negative-triangularity-/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT At Next Step Fusion, we believe recent scientific and technological advancements will give rise to the fusion power plant. Here is why we chose Negative Triangularity. https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim--validation-and-verification-of-synthetic-magnetic-diagnostics/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim--validation-and-verification-of-synthetic-magnetic-diagnostics/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT We explain the process of digital replica validation for NSFsim and validate synthetic magnetic diagnostics against real tokamak measurements. https://blog.nextfusion.org/building-a-deep-rl-model-for-plasma-shape-control-in-tokamaks/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/building-a-deep-rl-model-for-plasma-shape-control-in-tokamaks/ Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT We describe NSFsim and share the progress of our flagship project — a deep reinforcement learning model for plasma shape control in tokamaks. https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim/ https://blog.nextfusion.org/nsfsim/ Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT This is the first post of our tech blog, and it's intentionally about our simulator — NSFsim, a free-boundary equilibrium and transport solver for tokamaks.