Keep the power of a star in a magnetic bottle
We design and build devices that confine fusion plasma in axially symmetric open magnetic traps, a simpler and scalable path toward neutron sources, hybrid reactors and full-scale fusion power.
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Piccolo
First experimental facility
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2 sites
Île-de-France · Cadarache
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Simple circular coils
Open magnetic trap design
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CEA · CNRS · Tsukuba
Research collaborations
Sustainable human development is only possible with sufficient energy sources, and mastering thermonuclear fusion is the only realistic way to meet growing demand while preserving nature.
Using modern technologies for creating ultra-powerful magnetic fields and heating plasma, we build devices to confine fusion plasma in axially symmetric open magnetic traps. These will power neutron sources for hybrid fusion-fission reactors and, ultimately, full-scale fusion power plants.
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Experimental validation
A strong focus on measurable data and progressive scaling of the installation.
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Simple by design
Linear magnetic systems that connect heating, diagnostics and energy extraction with ease.
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Interdisciplinary team
Agile, hands-on collaboration between scientific, engineering and technical profiles.
Latest from the lab
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4 March 2026 Visit to ITER The Dicio Conflatio leadership team visited the construction site of ITER (Cadarache), the world's largest fusion project. The Piccolo open magnetic trap was discussed with leading ITER experts and Director-General Pietro Barabaschi. Read more -
12 March 2026 Visit to LNCMI-T A visit to the Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses (Toulouse, France), a world-leading center for the development and production of ultra-high-field magnet coils. Read more
Our path to fusion power
Each facility grows in size and heating power, from testing magnets today to a full-scale fusion plant, with parallel applications along the way.
- 2027 Piccolo Magnets & plasma methods
- 2030 Neutron source Materials-science experiments
- 2034 Hybrid reactor Fusion-fission hybrid facility
- Fusion power plant Full-scale commercial plant
PARALLEL APPLICATIONS
- Space thrusters
- Emission sources
Two sites, one mission
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Île-de-FranceTheory & numerical simulation
The part of our team working on theory and modeling is based near Paris.
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Cadarache
The facility
The installation is being designed at the heart of fusion research, near Cadarache at the WEST tokamak site in southern France.
A team of physicists and engineers
Backed by decades of hands-on experience from ITER, CERN, CEA and leading European laboratories.
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ENS Lyon, PhD in Theoretical Physics. Post-doc at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), USA. Post-doc at the Theory Institute (A. M. Tsvelik), Oxford, UK. Head of the Institut de Physique Théorique (IPhT, CEA-Saclay). Team leader of 110 people. 102 publications, cited 5,219 times. 110 invitations as a speaker at international conferences.
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Magistère in Fundamental Physics, Paris-Saclay University. PhD candidate (IPhT CEA/CNRS): Theoretical Physics, Mathematics & AI. Polyglot (5 languages). Executive MBA – HEC Paris. Lecturer in Quantum Mechanics – ENS Paris-Saclay. Lecturer in Linear Algebra – Université Paris-Saclay. Lecturer in Machine Learning & Deep Learning applied to financial markets – EDHEC. Founding President of RMX THERAPEUTICS and WMEDPHYS, biotech & pharma start-ups using quantum and AI technology for macromolecule determination. Founder of ENESIA, a school specialised in Data and AI.
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Otto Bede is a senior mechanical engineer with nearly 25 years of experience in nuclear fusion, remote handling systems, mechanical design, and complex international engineering projects. He has held key technical and leadership positions at ITER and major fusion research organisations, overseeing the development, procurement, integration, and maintenance of remote-operated systems for nuclear environments. His expertise includes mechanical engineering, teleoperation, nuclear systems integration, maintenance engineering, CAD/CAE tools, stakeholder management, and multidisciplinary project leadership, bridging advanced research with large-scale industrial implementation.
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Dr. Olena Turianska is an experimental plasma physicist specialising in laser–plasma interactions, high-energy-density physics, and advanced diagnostic systems. She has extensive experience designing, integrating, and operating complex experimental platforms involving high-power lasers, vacuum systems, X-ray diagnostics, optical instrumentation, and synchronised multi-subsystem environments. Her work spans leading international research facilities and fusion-energy programmes, combining hands-on experimental expertise with numerical modelling, data analysis, and multidisciplinary system integration.
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Marina Leboulanger is an applied mathematics and simulation engineer with expertise in scientific computing, numerical methods, and computational physics. Educated at ENSTA Paris and Institut Polytechnique de Paris, she has worked on advanced research projects in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), plasma physics, inverse problems, and photonic simulations. Her experience includes the development and validation of numerical schemes in HPC environments, finite-volume methods on unstructured meshes, and scientific programming in Python, C++, and MATLAB for large-scale modelling and simulation applications.
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Dr. Marc Chung To Sang is a plasma physicist and HPC research engineer specialising in numerical modelling, parallel computing, and scientific code optimisation. He has extensive experience in plasma propulsion, particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, and high-performance computing, including CPU-to-GPU migration and large-scale parallel algorithm development using Kokkos, MPI, and OpenMP. His background combines advanced plasma physics research with expertise in C++, Python, and Fortran, enabling the development of high-performance simulation tools for scientific and industrial applications.
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Manoli Kalos is a Data & AI product manager with expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven product development. He has led the design and deployment of AI solutions, including LLM-based applications, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, and production-grade data pipelines, bridging business requirements with technical implementation. Combining strong product management capabilities with hands-on experience in data science, cloud platforms, and MLOps, he specialises in delivering scalable AI products that create measurable value.
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Julien Gargiulo is a mechanical and vacuum engineer specialising in ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) systems, cryogenics, and advanced scientific infrastructure. He has contributed to major international research facilities including the European Gravitational Observatory (Virgo) and CERN, where he led the design, analysis, testing, and industrial implementation of vacuum, cryogenic, and mechanical systems for cutting-edge physics projects. His expertise spans vacuum technology, structural and thermal engineering, finite-element analysis, contamination control, and systems integration, combining hands-on engineering with strong experience in industrial coordination and large-scale research environments.
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Dr. Jong Hern Mun is a plasma physicist specialising in plasma modelling, sheath physics, low-temperature plasmas, and numerical simulation. He earned a joint Ph.D. from Aix-Marseille University (France) and the University of Saskatchewan (Canada), conducting research on magnetron discharges, ion heating, and plasma–surface interactions. His expertise includes computational plasma physics, fluid and kinetic modelling, scientific programming (Python, C/C++, Fortran, MATLAB), and multiphysics simulation, complemented by teaching and research experience in both European and North American academic environments.
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Dr. Giordana Severino is a senior engineer and project manager with expertise in fusion energy, advanced instrumentation, magnetic sensing, and large-scale scientific infrastructure. With a Ph.D. in magnetic sensing, a postdoctoral background in plasma physics, and an MBA, she has held key technical and leadership roles at ITER, CERN, Fermilab, and leading industrial organisations. Her experience spans complex systems engineering, precision metrology, diagnostics integration, and the management of multinational R&D projects, including oversight of multi-million-euro programmes involving international stakeholders, industrial partners, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
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Dr. Henk Gaxiola is a senior electrical and energy systems engineer with more than 25 years of international experience in high-voltage engineering, superconducting magnet systems, power transmission, and large-scale scientific infrastructure. He has held technical and leadership roles at ITER, CERN, Siemens, and the European Commission, contributing to fusion energy, particle accelerators, HVDC power systems, and advanced energy technologies. His expertise spans electrical insulation, electromagnetic compatibility, power electronics, superconducting systems, project management, and technology assessment, supported by a strong track record of publications, patents, and multinational research collaborations.
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Catherine Tchoreloff is a senior civil and public infrastructure engineer with more than 30 years of experience in project ownership, urban development, and the management of large public-sector construction programmes. She has held executive leadership positions within major French local authorities, overseeing complex building and public space projects, multidisciplinary technical teams, and multimillion-euro investment portfolios. Her expertise spans infrastructure planning, asset management, urban redevelopment, stakeholder coordination, and the delivery of large-scale public works, combining strong engineering foundations with extensive experience in strategic governance and operational management.
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Dr. Anurag Banerjee is a theoretical condensed matter physicist specialising in strongly correlated electron systems, unconventional superconductivity, quantum materials, and many-body topological phases. He has held research positions at CEA Paris-Saclay and Ben-Gurion University, where he developed advanced theoretical and computational approaches to study Mott insulators, charge density waves, superconductivity, and non-Fermi liquid behaviour. His expertise spans analytical modelling, quantum many-body theory, Monte Carlo methods, density functional theory (DFT), and high-performance scientific computing, with more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in leading physics journals.
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Dr. Andrey Kabantsev is a physicist with over 40 years of experience in plasma physics, non-neutral plasmas, plasma diagnostics, magnetohydrodynamics, and vacuum/cryogenic system design. He has led and contributed to research programmes on open magnetic traps at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Columbia University, and the University of California San Diego, authoring more than 100 scientific publications. His expertise includes plasma instabilities, wave phenomena, particle transport, precision measurements, and advanced experimental diagnostics.
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Andreas Lopez is an administrative professional with experience in student services, educational administration, and stakeholder coordination within higher education institutions. He has managed student records, apprenticeship contracts, invoicing processes, and interactions with training and funding organisations, while supporting the operational activities of academic programmes. Complementing his administrative background with ongoing studies in Data & AI, he brings strong organisational skills, multilingual communication abilities, and a growing interest in digital technologies and data-driven processes.
