Operations & Commissioning
Cold Commissioning
Proving every system works before any plasma exists.
- Goal
- Systems proven, no plasma yet
Cold commissioning powers and tests each system — vacuum, cryogenics, magnets, cooling, controls — individually and then together, all before the first plasma. It verifies the machine is ready and safe to operate.
Reaching base vacuum, cooling the magnets, and validating interlocks are the milestones of this stage.
Common questions
What is cold commissioning?
Bringing the magnets and cryogenic system down to operating temperature and verifying vacuum, cooling and instrumentation before any plasma — proving the cold plant works in isolation.
Why do it before first plasma?
Because faults are far easier and safer to find and fix in a cold, un-activated machine than once plasma operation begins.