A recent breakthrough in the technology of nuclear fusion has been accomplished by China with its Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), or artificial sun. Reactor for the first time achieves sustained plasma for 1,000 seconds, which is longer than the recent 403 s record of 2023. Such development is an important step towards fusion as a clean and safe energy provider.
The advent of nuclear fusion has indeed (always) been the academia’s wish. It is described as the interaction of atomic nuclei along with a tremendous energy release (i.e., the process used by the Sun). Compared to nuclear fission-based fusion, nuclear fission-based fusion, by itself, is not accompanied by greenhouse gas emissions, and, importantly, nuclear radioactive materials are at very low risk of being used for evil purposes.
Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak Helps Launch Artificial Sun
Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, describes the condition that due to the need for the device to operate at high efficiency for some minutes, the device needs to account for the continuous self-sustained circulation of plasma. This is of significant relevance for continuous power generation in the power generation of the next generation of fusion reactors. The recent success of the EAST reactor, though it has not yet achieved ignition (where the fusion reaction sustains itself), marks a critical step forward in this technology.
The application of EAST to over 100 experiments emerged since the development of EAST in 2006. Experimental generation next fusion generators are under construction following a successful operational cycle in Anhui province, China. Present successes are aimed toward the development of fusion power dispersal globally, a world-changing energy supply.
Fusion energy is sometimes referred to as the “holy grail” of energy modalities because it shows the potential for practically inexhaustible power without the environmental concerns and dangers often associated with traditional energy sources. Fusion is a means of supplying the energy needs of the whole world and long-term space travel is believed to play a significant role.
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