The ITER Superconducting magnets confine and control the reacting plasma and induce an electrical current through it.

The energy generated in the reactions is absorbed by the components lining the inside surface of the vessel, namely the blanket, divertor and port plugs. These components also maintain plasma purity, heat and diagnose it, and carry test pieces for power-reactor-relevant blanket development. After operation with DT, the in-vessel components will become radioactive and need to be remotely maintained.

A bioshield surrounds the magnets and vessel. This concrete structure brings the radiation dose to levels which avoid activation of surrounding equipment and which allow personnel access to that equipment not long after the tokamak has stopped operating. The bioshield is an integral part of the tokamak building which, among other buildings, houses support systems such as power supplies and cooling.

A cryostat is built just inside the bioshield and is held under vacuum. This, plus thermal shields, minimises the heat inleak to the magnet system from the warm components and the surrounding environment.

All these components and systems need to be assembled and tested before operation.

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