Alcator Project

The Alcator Project was a scientific effort focused on developing advanced magnetic confinement devices called tokamaks, designed to contain and control hot plasma for nuclear fusion energy. By using powerful magnets, the project aimed to sustain controlled fusion reactions similar to the Sun, providing a potential clean and virtually limitless energy source. Conducted primarily at MIT from the 1960s onwards, Alcator’s innovations contributed to understanding plasma behavior and improving fusion reactor design, paving the way toward practical fusion power as a future energy solution.