Advancing Fusion Plasma Physics with SPARC and ARC

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is assembling the high field SPARC tokamak (Bt=12.2T) and designing the first ARC fusion power plant. As assembly progresses, CFS is working closely with a broad team of collaborators to develop integrated physics scenarios for SPARC, both for achieving fusion breakeven in the early phase of operation, and for study burning plasmas in later stages. We report on advancing core-pedestal-boundary integration to optimize fusion performance, consistent with a radiative divertor solution, allowing success of the SPARC mission including plasma facing component integrity. Underpinning integrated scenario development are studies of boundary and pedestal physics, ICRF heating, turbulent transport, energetic particle physics, and transient events. SPARC will enter unprecedented territory across a wide range of sustained physics parameters, enabling model validation and enhancement at power plant relevant physics parameters, paving the way for full optimization of ARC. This talk presents an overview of both progress and plans for physics scenario development and model validation on SPARC, with implications for the ARC design.