Brazil's three tokamaks
USP, INPE and UFES — the fusion research Brazil has that almost no one knows about.
- Angra I/II/III — Angra dos Reis (RJ) • Eletronuclear
- IEN — Rio de Janeiro • CNEN
- CDTN — Belo Horizonte • UFMG/CNEN
- IPEN — São Paulo • USP/CNEN
- INB Caetité — Bahia • mineração de urânio
- INB Resende — RJ • conversão e combustível
- CTMSP — Iperó (SP) • Marinha do Brasil
Brazil operates three experimental tokamaks, all at public universities or institutes. It is the only country in the Southern Hemisphere in this position.
Source: SBPC, 2023; O Cafezinho, May 2026.
TCABR — USP, São Paulo
The largest tokamak in Brazil. Acquired from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland) and adapted by the USP Institute of Physics team, it has been operating since 1999. It conducts research on plasma turbulence and magnetohydrodynamic instabilities. Currently being upgraded with RMP coils and a helium system — it is expected to become the first machine of the National Fusion Laboratory (LFN), planned for Iperó (SP).
Source: CANAL, G. CNEN/USP, 2021; SBPC, 2023.
ETE — INPE, São José dos Campos
Spherical tokamak, construction began in 1995, first plasma in 2000. A different design from TCABR — spherical chamber, more compact — it serves as a test platform for alternative confinement technologies.
NOVA — UFES, Vitória (ES)
Donated by the Japanese government (originally built by Kyoto University). Operates at the UFES Thermal Plasma Laboratory.
Source: UFES, ufes.br
All three laboratories collaborate with researchers from Germany, the USA, Russia, Portugal and the United Kingdom. The main obstacle: intermittent funding and difficulty retaining specialists trained in Brazil.
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