Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma is an materials engineering technology company operating globally and headquartered in Oxford, UK. It is known for its agnostic approach to fusion. The company is based in Oxford, UK with a subsidiary in the USA.
==History==
Oxford Sigma was founded by Dr Thomas P. Davis and Jonathan Musgrove in March 2019. It was founded whilst Davis was completing his PhD at the University of Oxford and Musgrove was working at an engineering consultancy.
Oxford Sigma's headquarters are based in Oxford, UK. A satellite office is also at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's (UKAEA) Culham Innovation Centre in Abingdon, UK. In July 2023, a subsidiary branch called Oxford Sigma Inc. was opened in the United States of America.
Oxford Sigma is part of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV) fusion construction code. The first edition of the ASME BPV Section III Division 4 code was published in July 2023. ITER has called for the development of Section III Division 4 for fusion energy.
The company is part of the UK Fusion Skills Council, a cross-industry group of fusion developers, suppliers, and training providers in the UK advising the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Oxford Sigma is a member of the US Fusion Industry Association (FIA).
Oxford Sigma is a member of the Fusion Industry Taskforce (FIT). FIT was established in 2022 by Assystem with support from DESNZ.
The board of directors at Oxford Sigma has four registered officers as of 2024. In February 2024, James Dimitriou, Executive Chairman, and Dr Alasdair Morrison, Chief Technology Officer, joined the board. Jonathan Musgrove and Thomas Davis have been board members since March 2019.
==Name==
In 2022, the company name was changed from Davis & Musgrove to Oxford Sigma. The Greek letter sigma (σ) holds multiple meanings in science and math. The lowercase form (σ) represents neutron cross section and its use in nuclear engineering.
==Technology==
Oxford Sigma produces materials for extreme environments, such as nuclear fusion in-vessel components, including first-walls and breeder blankets for fusion machines. First walls are a region of a fusion reactor that face the plasma. Breeder blankets are the devices that produces tritium from the lithium-6 capture of neutrons. They produce fuel for the nuclear fusion reaction.
Oxford Sigma has published patents related to materials for fusion energy technology. A study by Jefferies found that, out of 45 private fusion commercialization companies, Oxford Sigma was one of two working on sector-wide technologies and solutions.
Oxford Sigma is an Engineering Delivery Partner for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme by UKAEA. In a partnership with UKAEA, Oxford Sigma is manufacturing pathways for specific requirements of fusion energy devices, notably tungsten plasma-facing components. Also with UKAEA, Oxford Sigma is developing liquid metal technologies focusing on lithium alloys corrosion resistant materials for fusion breeder blankets fusion as part of a £1.49 million research contract.
Together with Tungsten West Plc, Oxford Sigma is exploring 'critical supply pathway options' for tungsten. Tungsten is considered a critical material for fusion energy with applications as the plasma-facing material and radiation shielding of fusion components.
Oxford Sigma is involved in the development of hypersonic technology as part of the UK Ministry of Defence Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework (HTCDF). HTCDF is a £1 billion agreement by the Ministry of Defence to develop hypersonic missile capabilities for the UK.
==See also==
ASME BPVC Codes and Standards
Tokamak Energy
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion Power
Category:Engineering organizations
Category:Companies established in 2019
Category:Companies based in Oxford