QST and NTT Cooperate in AI Toward the Realization of Nuclear Fusion

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On March 17, Japan’s National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST) and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) announced their development of an AI-based prediction method applicable to plasma confinement—an essential step in the commercialization of nuclear fusion energy. Five years ago, in 2020, QST and NTT signed a partnership agreement, and the newly announced method is one of the fruits of their collaborative efforts.

In the area of fusion energy development, QST has been involved in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project, including the development of the JT-60SA (superconducting-coil tokamak plasma test device) at its Naka Fusion Institute. This work constitutes part of the broader approach (BA) activities being conducted by Japan and Europe to complement the ITER project.

Meanwhile, NTT has also been working with the national government’s Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy and is advocating for the importance of advanced nuclear technology from the perspective of the information and communications industry.

For nuclear fusion energy to be successfully commercialized, a key technological hurdle that must be overcome is controlling confined plasma.

According to the recent announcement, QST and NTT noted that confining unstable plasma over long periods of time requires step-by-step operations to solve complicated equations involving significant computational challenges. Both parties emphasized the importance of creating a predictive processing method, against this backdrop, they developed a new method for evaluating complex states, called the “mixture of experts” (MoE).

When used in the evaluation of confined plasma in magnetic fields at JT-60SA, the new method demonstrated the potential for real-time control of multiple parameters—such as internal current and pressure distributions critical for avoiding plasma instability—which was not achievable with conventional methods.

A working group within Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is currently deliberating on the development of a prototype reactor to demonstrate power generation, toward the realization of nuclear fusion energy and to follow the ITER Project.

At the same time, the government’s Cabinet Office has invited comments from the public on securing the safety of nuclear fusion. Interest is growing within the private sector, including startups.

QST stated that it is working toward the swift commercialization of nuclear fusion through the application of various kinds of advanced technology—including NTT’s information and network vision known as “IOWN” (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network)—to R&D on nuclear fusion.