Overview of SPARC

The SPARC device is a D-T burning tokamak designed to produce net fusion power and accelerate the path to practical commercial fusion energy.  The device uses novel high field, high temperature superconductors (HTS) that enable a high gain plasma (Q_fus > 10) in a compact form (parameters R₀ = 1.85 m, a = 0.57 m, B₀ = 12.2 T, IP = 8.7 MA).  The SPARC device recently achieved a major program milestone to mark the start of the construction phase for the project.  A site has been secured in Devens, Massachusetts, where construction of the SPARC tokamak building and HTS magnet manufacturing facility are underway.  Extensive engineering design progress has been made for all the device systems in support of achieving first plasma in 2025.  Tungsten has been chosen over carbon as the plasma facing material for the divertor and limiter surfaces, and high heat flux testing of materials and tile designs are underway. Disruption physics analysis has been performed to bound the device operating space.  A 2.5m tall D-shaped toroidal field model coil has been constructed and is undergoing commissioning tests at the time of this writing. In this work we will present updates to the project status and physics/engineering challenges being addressed in the design.