Fusion energy at MIT: from empirical to first-principles understanding of burning plasmas

Fusion energy using magnetic confinement devices such as tokamaks is becoming closer to its realization as an energy source. Records are attained every year in experiments worldwide, ITER construction is progressing and private investment is flowing into the field. In this talk, we will introduce fusion, its challenges and how the SPARC tokamak (under construction by Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and in collaboration with MIT) is poised to achieve net plasma gain in a few years.