Current Advances in Nuclear Fusion Technology

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue presents cutting-edge research addressing key scientific and engineering challenges in realizing practical fusion energy, focusing on the fundamental and applied aspects of plasma behavior and fusion reactor development. Relevant topics include energy and particle transport, emphasizing predictive modeling of turbulent and neoclassical processes critical for confinement optimization. Multi-physics modeling integrates plasma dynamics with material response, enabling comprehensive reactor simulations. Advances in plasma turbulence, hydrodynamics, and MHD stability contribute to improved control of instabilities, disruption mitigation and ion and electron inertia to capture non-ideal and transient plasma behavior.

Studies on plasma–material interactions explore erosion, redeposition, and heat flux management at reactor edges. Research in heating, fueling, and current drive supports efficient plasma sustainment, while laser–plasma interactions advance inertial confinement schemes. Within the framework of inertial confinement fusion, studies on the interplay between plasma compression, hydrodynamic instabilities, and shock dynamics aim to enhance confinement efficiency and energy yield, as do studies of inertial Alfvén and magnetosonic waves.

Investigations into fast particle physics and burning plasma dynamics enhance our understanding of self-heating and alpha particle behavior. The Special Issue also includes developments in scenario control—enabling stable, high-performance operation—and fusion reactor materials, focusing on radiation resistance and thermal resilience. Finally, innovations in fusion reactor technology—from diagnostics to power exhaust systems—highlight integrated progress toward safe, efficient, and sustainable fusion power generation. Together, these contributions represent a significant step toward realizing fusion as a viable energy source.

Dr. Alejandro Soba
Guest Editor

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