divertor

A divertor is a component in a fusion reactor designed to safely remove excess heat and waste particles from the plasma—the hot, charged gas where fusion occurs. It directs these particles out of the main reaction area, preventing damage to the reactor’s walls and maintaining stable operation. Essentially, the divertor acts like a specialized exhaust system, ensuring the reactor can handle the intense heat and particle flow generated during fusion, much like a car's exhaust directs engine gases away safely, but on a much larger and more complex scale.