SPM1 Minimak installed at Manchester University for teaching and research

Last week the Fusion Research Community at Manchester welcomed an exciting new addition to the lab: a Minimak . The workbench-sized donut-shaped vacuum chamber contains a low-temperature plasma controlled by magnets. It was designed and built by Rideo Systems Ltd to support teaching and research into Fusion Energy at The Fusion Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training and the MancheSTAR Fusion Society.

Early work will focus on digital twins, AI-driven plasma control and diagnostics. As experience builds, the CDT students will help design, build and commission a larger facility that will also support research into robotics and materials testing under extreme temperatures.

Members of the Manchester Fusion Research Community led by Professor Lee Margetts and Professor Philip Edmondson gathered to meet Paul Apte and Neil Sykes who installed the Minimak and delivered a training course for early users..