Following the thread
Like Ariadne's thread winding through the mythical labyrinth, a series of slender copper-coated cables are being carefully unspooled along the vacuum vessel’s inner walls as flux loop installation gets underway.
Flux loops are a cornerstone of ITER’s plasma diagnostics. When the magnetic flux passing through a loop of conducting wire changes, it induces a voltage that can be measured. By monitoring these electrical signals, scientists can track changes in magnetic flux and, together with measurements from other sensors, reconstruct the shape and position of the plasma.
In total, 230 flux loops comprising two kilometres of cable will be installed inside the vacuum vessel. Approximately 50% will be installed in a first wave, with the remaining 50% after the vacuum vessel sectors are welded together. Installation began on Thursday 5 November as part of the in-vessel assembly project.
