March 28 – April 9, 2025: a crucial phase of the RFX-mod2 project has just been successfully completed.
On March 28, 2025, two new quarters of the machine’s shell returned to the lab after being coated with alumina – the ceramic oxide that ensures electrical insulation and protects the system from short circuits and overheating.
The final quarter arrived on April 9, marking the full return of all main shell components, now ready for the next stage of assembly. The next step will be the assembly of the shell, equipped with a dense set of electromagnetic sensors and protected by the plasma facing tiles, and afterwards the reassembly of the entire toroidal system, ahead of the resumption of experimental activities planned for next year.
Alongside images and videos of the transport and handling operations, we also bring you a brief on-the-spot comment by Lionello Marrelli, scientific responsible of the RFX-mod2 experiment at Consorzio RFX, who shared his thoughts right after the last delivery:
“This marks a significant moment as we can now begin the delicate final assembly procedure, which we have thoroughly planned and partially rehearsed. The thousands of individual components – including support rings, measurement sensors, graphite tiles, and more – that we have manufactured and tested separately over these past years will now finally be placed in their designated positions. the alumina coating will be instrumental in maintaining the electrical insulation of all these components, thereby ensuring the safety and operational efficiency of our experiment.”
Stay tuned for more updates on RFX-mod2: the next steps will bring us even closer to the goal of a fully renewed machine, ready to explore new frontiers in plasma physics.