The fusion energy sector is witnessing a significant shift, driven by the advancements in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes and the role of excimer lasers in their manufacturing. Coherent’s LEAP series excimer lasers are at the heart of this transformation, enabling the production of superconducting tapes crucial for high-field fusion magnets.
HTS tapes, based on multi-crystalline REBCO (rare-earth barium copper oxide) layers, have revolutionized fusion magnet performance. These tapes can operate at higher temperatures and magnetic fields than traditional low-temperature superconductors, allowing for more compact and efficient fusion reactors. The magnetic fields exceeding 20 T achievable with HTS-based fusion magnets have led to a substantial reduction in reactor volume, lowering costs and accelerating timelines for commercial fusion energy.
The scale-up of HTS production is critical to the future of magnetic fusion energy. With nearly $10bn in funding, the fusion industry is advancing rapidly. According to the Fusion Industry Association, 75% of fusion companies expect to begin delivering electricity to the grid by 2035. However, achieving this milestone requires a significant increase in HTS tape production, far exceeding the current global capacity of around 10,000 km per year.
Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) using excimer lasers has emerged as the dominant method for manufacturing REBCO films. The LEAP excimer laser platform from Coherent, designed for fast large-area thin film processing, has been instrumental in meeting the growing demand. The LEAP 300 W lasers are currently employed by all major HTS tape suppliers, and the introduction of the LEAP 600 W in June 2025 promises even greater capacity and cost-efficiency.
The LEAP 600 W excimer laser, developed at Coherent’s facility in Goettingen, Germany, features on-the-fly active injection technology, tripling runtime and doubling HTS tape throughput per PLD system. This innovation addresses the bottleneck in HTS tape production, crucial for the next wave of prototype and grid-scale fusion reactors.
Beyond fusion, HTS tapes have the potential to reshape energy distribution, medical imaging, and transportation. The commoditisation of HTS tapes via PLD-driven upscaling could lead to decentralised energy infrastructure, revolutionising energy resilience and efficiency.
The introduction of the LEAP 600 W excimer laser marks a significant step forward in the fusion energy sector. As the industry scales up, the cost-efficiency and performance of HTS tapes will be critical in meeting energy cost targets and achieving commercial viability. The developments in excimer laser technology are not only advancing fusion but also paving the way for transformative changes across multiple industries.