TCV, the Tokamak à configuration variable, is an experimental nuclear fusion reactor operated by the Swiss Plasma Center of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). On September 21, 2023, celebrations were held in Lausanne, Switzerland, to mark 30 years of the TCV.
What is special about the TCV, which was commissioned in 1992, is that it is - as its name suggests - a "variable configuration" tokamak. This means that plasma configurations can be changed and their effects on the properties of the plasma can be studied. Different configurations for divertors can also be tested. The role of divertors is essential for being able to store plasma for long periods.
The ceremony at Forum Rolex, opened by Swiss Plasma Center Director Ambrogio Fasoli, was attended by key political and research representatives, including EUROfusion Programme Manager Tony Donné, F4E Director Marc Lachaise, and ITER Deputy Director General Alain Becoulet.
A detailed article on fusion research at the Swiss Plasma Center can be found here.