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Coherent, Faraday 1867 Partner on Fusion-Tech

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Coherent Corp. and Faraday 1867 Holdings LLC, which is based in Kangawa, Japan, have established a partnership to scale up manufacturing of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape to enable mass deployment of nuclear fusion reactors. A letter of intent signed by the companies outlines a strategy to increase manufacturing capacity at Faraday’s factory in Japan, using excimer lasers from Coherent to meet global demand for HTS tape.

The tape is used in strong electromagnets that are used to contain plasma in magnetic-confinement fusion reactors. Coherent’s LEAP excimer lasers are used in pulsed laser deposition that enables the manufacturing of the tape. Coherent’s LEAP excimer lasers are used in the pulsed laser deposition process that enables the manufacture of high-temperature superconducting tape. Courtesy of Coherent.
Coherent’s LEAP excimer lasers are used in the pulsed laser deposition process that enables the manufacture of HTS tape. Courtesy of Coherent. 

“We understand that countries in the nuclear fusion energy race are looking to ramp up sustainable supply chains of HTS tape on the order of thousands of kilometers per year to keep fusion technology development on a fast track,” said Kai Schmidt, senior vice president of Coherent’s excimer laser business unit. HTS tape enables magnetic-confinement fusion reactors, like tokamaks, Coherent said. The tape can operate at temperatures of tens of Kelvins, which eliminates the need for costly cooling systems based on nonsustainable liquid helium technology.


Sergey Lee, representative director of Faraday Factory in Japan, added that HTS tape also finds use in lossless energy transmission, zero-carbon aviation and container ships, helium-free MRI systems, advanced propulsion for spaceships, and other applications that drive production demand.

Coherent and Faraday said that demand for HTS is expected to grow by a factor of 10 by 2027. In addition, the companies said that magnetic-confinement fusion reactors are expected to eventually be capable of producing gigawatts of carbon-free power with a net gain of greater than 10, supporting a global transition to green energy as a result.  

In a separate development, Coherent received an investment of $1 billion for its silicon carbide (SiC) business from DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric. Both entities will invest $500 million and receive a 12.5% noncontrolling stake in Coherent’s SiC business, which will be separated and contributed to a subsidiary controlled by Coherent.

Additionally, the business will enter into long-term supply arrangements with DENSO and Mitsubishi Electric to support demand for 150- and 200-mm SiC substrates and epitaxial wafers.



Published: October 2023
Glossary
excimer laser
An excimer laser is a type of ultraviolet laser that emits short pulses of light in the ultraviolet spectrum. The term excimer is derived from excited dimer, reflecting the nature of the gain medium used in these lasers. Excimer lasers are widely used in various industrial, medical, and scientific applications due to their ability to deliver high-energy, UV light in short pulses. Key features and characteristics of excimer lasers include: Excimer molecules: The gain medium of an excimer...
fusion
1. The combination of the effects of two or more stimuli in any given sense to form a single sensation. With respect to vision, the perception of continuous illumination formed by the rapid successive presentation of light flashes at a specified rate. 2. The transition of matter from solid to liquid form. 3. With respect to atomic or nuclear fusion, the combination of atomic nuclei, under extreme heat, to form a heavier nucleus.
nuclear fusion
In physics, nuclear fusion refers to the process in which two atomic nuclei come together to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy. This process powers the sun and other stars and is being researched as a potential clean and abundant energy source on Earth.
wafer
In the context of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, a wafer refers to a thin, flat disk or substrate made of a semiconducting material, usually crystalline silicon. Wafers serve as the foundation for the fabrication of integrated circuits (ICs), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and other microdevices. Here are key points regarding wafers: Material: Silicon is the most commonly used material for wafer fabrication due to its excellent semiconductor properties, high purity,...
substrate
A substrate refers to a material or surface upon which another material or process is applied or deposited. In various fields, such as electronics, biology, chemistry, and manufacturing, the term "substrate" is used with specific contexts, but the fundamental definition remains consistent: it is the underlying material or surface that provides a foundation for subsequent processes or applications. Here are some examples of how a substrate is used in different fields: Electronics: In...
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