Chinese fusion breakthrough: EAST reactor sets new heat record
The Chinese EAST reactor has maintained a temperature of approximately 100 million degrees Celsius for 18 minutes, setting a new record. Maintaining such high plasma temperatures is crucial for the future of nuclear energy.
The record was set by the Chinese EAST nuclear fusion reactor. As reported by Heise Online, this achievement was confirmed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which stated that the plasma reached a temperature of about 104 million degrees Celsius.
An important record for nuclear energy
The temperature and duration for which plasma is maintained are key for using nuclear fusion for electricity generation. As emphasised by Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stable circulation of plasma for thousands of seconds is essential for future nuclear fusion power plants.
EAST is an experimental nuclear reactor located in Hefei, Anhui Province. Research on nuclear fusion has been conducted there since 2006. This process involves the combining of isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium, which requires extreme temperatures.
How will the record affect international projects?
The research findings from EAST are also intended to support the international ITER project in France. The initiative involves 35 countries, including China. EAST has previously set records, such as maintaining plasma at approximately 52 million degrees Celsius for 1,056 seconds in 2021.
The reactor operates based on a tokamak, where plasma is maintained in a magnetic field. High temperatures allow for overcoming the repulsion of nuclei, leading to their fusion and energy release. This is another step towards creating a functional nuclear fusion reactor.
