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Vacuum pumping is required prior to starting the fusion reaction to eliminate all sources of organic molecules that would otherwise be broken up in the hot plasma. Vacuum pumping is also required to create low density¡ªabout one million times lower than the density of air.

Mechanical pumps alone cannot achieve the vacuum quality that is indispensable to producing the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ plasmas. Once mechanical pumps have evacuated most of the air molecules and impurities from inside the vacuum vessel, six torus cryopumps will finalize the job and trap the remaining particles. Two other cryopumps in the cryostat will maintain the low pressure required for the operation of the superconducting magnets.

These complex pumps have been in design for years to meet the very specific applications and requirements at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ. All are based on cryopanels, cooled with supercritical helium and coated with activated charcoal as sorbent material for imprisoning particles.

Under the terms of a Procurement Arrangement signed with the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Organization in 2018, the European Domestic Agency (Fusion for Energy) is procuring the eight cryopumps based on a design developed through the close collaboration of experts at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ and Fusion for Energy and the participation of European industry. The first production pump is expected at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ before the end of the year.