Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Magnetic confinement fusion is a method of achieving controlled nuclear fusion by using magnetic fields to confine and heat plasma to extremely high temperatures.
Related terms
Plasma: A state of matter consisting of charged particles (ions and electrons) that has been heated to extremely high temperatures.
Tokamak: A device used for magnetic confinement fusion that uses toroidal (doughnut-shaped) magnetic fields to confine the plasma.
Fusion Reactor: A hypothetical power plant that would utilize nuclear fusion as an energy source, producing clean and abundant energy.