The Rise of Mirror Machines: Novatron Fusion Group presents ”Future of Fusion” at ITER Workshop in France
As the world urgently seeks sustainable and sovereign energy sources, fusion energy has re-emerged as a beacon of hope—clean, abundant, and geopolitically stabilizing. While tokamaks and stellarators have long dominated the fusion landscape, a different contender is gaining traction: mirror machines.
This was underscored at the second ITER Private Sector Fusion Workshop where Novatron Fusion Group Executive Chairman Erik Oden was invited to speak during the "Innovation in Fusion Technology" session. He shared the stage with Mr. Dominick Bindl from Realta Fusion, another fusion company representing advancements in magnetic confinement mirror configurations.
Mr. Odén’s highlighted the advantages of mirror machines and Novatron Fusion Group’s innovative NOVATRON technology, which theoretically and numerically has been demonstrated to minimize problems with plasma instabilities and poor confinement that have obstructed the commercial advancement of fusion energy. NOVATRON’s axisymmetric design, which replaces complicated magnetic curvature with straight, symmetric fields, improves the mirror ratio and reduces particle leakage. This is further enhanced by advanced plugging methods—such as electrostatic and ponderomotive barriers—that keep plasma efficiently confined.
The event, held on April 22–23, 2025, at ITER headquarters in Cadarache, France, brought together over 350 delegates from more than 30 private fusion startups, public laboratories, and industry suppliers to discuss achievements, challenges, and collaborative opportunities in fusion energy development.
“The reception to our technology at ITER was energizing. It validated what we have long believed: that mirror machines’ simplicity, scalability, and other advantages make them not just competitive as a power source but also as a powerful steady-state neutron source, thus providing a tool for the advancement of the whole fusion industry.”
Mirror machines, often regarded as an “alternative track” to current mainstream fusion development, are distinct from the more widely pursued tokamak and stellarator designs. However, this understates their significance. Far from being a fringe concept, mirror machines represent a well-established and scientifically sophisticated approach within fusion energy research, with roots tracing back to the 1950s.
Their development is underpinned by decades of rigorous experimentation and theoretical advancement, making them one of the earliest magnetic confinement systems explored. Over time, research efforts in the United States, Russia, and Japan built a deep and validated scientific foundation for mirror-based fusion. Despite being overshadowed in funding and visibility by toroidal systems, mirror machines have consistently demonstrated unique advantages—particularly in their geometric simplicity, modularity, and steady-state operational potential.
Today, novel innovations in magnetic field configurations, plasma stabilization techniques, and advanced materials have revitalized this approach. These technological breakthroughs enable mirror machines to be scaled up for commercial deployment. By using a linear array of circular magnets and omitting the complex toroidal geometry of tokamaks, mirror machines offer a more elegant and cost-effective pathway to achieving commercial fusion.
Cross-section of the first pilot device, NOVATRON 1, which is currently operational.
The benefits are substantial unlike closed-field fusion systems, which struggle with complex engineering and energy losses, mirror machines like NOVATRON feature open-field designs. This allows for direct energy conversion of ionized plasma exhaust—turning fusion reactions into electricity more efficiently. Moreover, the design facilitates steady-state operation, where fuel is continuously cycled and exhaust removed without pulsing. This consistency improves operational reliability and drastically reduces wear and tear on reactor components.
Mirror machines also have the ability to use deuterium-deuterium (DD) as fuel, which is achievable at high plasma pressures in mirror machines, also sets them apart. Deuterium, extracted from ordinary water, is far more abundant than tritium, the rare and radioactive isotope used in most other fusion designs. This gives mirror machines a significant edge in long-term sustainability and energy security.
Apart from discussing the advancement of mirror machines, the workshop facilitated inspiring discussions around other technological developments, joint challenges and collaborative opportunities in the fusion energy community. The workshop also featured specialized tours of ITER's facilities, including the cryogenics plant, magnet conversion buildings, and the tokamak pit, providing participants with insights into the scale and complexity of ITER's fusion efforts.