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China’s Artificial Sun Sets New Record for Plasma Confinement
The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), also known as the “Artificial Sun,” has achieved a new milestone. The device successfully maintained a stable high-confinement plasma operation for 1,066 seconds, equivalent to just over 17 minutes.
This achievement marks a significant step forward in the pursuit of fusion energy generation. The goal of creating an artificial sun is to replicate the nuclear fusion processes that occur in the Sun, producing a clean and virtually limitless source of energy.
The new record, set on Monday (21), surpasses the previous world record of 403 seconds, also set by EAST in 2023. The achievement was made possible by the Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
To reach this goal, researchers have been working for over 70 years, as replicating the Sun’s processes involves overcoming enormous challenges. These include achieving temperatures that exceed 100 million degrees Celsius, maintaining stable long-term operation, and ensuring precise control over the fusion process.
In the latest experiment, the EAST’s heating system operated at a power equivalent to almost 140,000 household microwave ovens. This represents a significant increase from the previous experiment in 2023.
According to Song Yuntao, director of ASIPP and vice president of HFIPS, “a fusion device must achieve stable operation with high efficiency for thousands of seconds to enable self-sustaining plasma circulation, which is essential for continuous energy generation in future fusion power plants.”
He also described the recent record as “monumental” and “a critical step towards achieving a functional fusion reactor.”
The implications of this breakthrough are significant, as it brings humanity closer to harnessing the power of fusion energy, a clean and virtually limitless source of energy.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development in the field of fusion energy!
