"2017 TOCAMAC Fusion Chamber N0689" by Rswilcox, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Many people think that solar panels are the best option when it comes to clean and renewable energy. After all, they capture sunlight and turn it into power. However, solar panels are quite inefficient because they are only able to capture a small fraction of the sun’s output. Engineers have taken the next big step: Instead of relying on a sun that is tens of millions of miles away, what if we made our own?
Engineers and researchers in the United Kingdom have developed an “artificial sun,” a reactor that mimics the processes that occur inside of our sun. Instead of splitting atoms like a typical nuclear reactor, it fuses hydrogen atoms, and as a result, releases enormous amounts of energy. This process generates clean energy that produces no waste. This reactor is not the first of its kind, but it marks a big leap forward in fusion technology.
How is fusion achieved?
Fusion reactions are created when scientists confine plasma fuel within the reactor at extremely high temperatures. These temperatures allow the fuel to turn into plasma; however, if the pressure or density is too high, the plasma becomes unstable. In the worst case scenario, it could cause major damage to the reactor’s components.
What is a tokamak?
Tokamaks are spherical doughnut-shaped reactors. They use powerful magnets to prevent the plasma from touching the other sides of the reactor. The temperatures inside the reactor can reach close to 100 million degrees Celsius.
Why is this significant?
Researchers were able to suppress the plasma using small 3D magnetic fields. According to James Harrison, the head of MAST Upgrade Science at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, “Suppressing ELMs in a spherical tokamak is a landmark achievement.” While there were many other breakthroughs in the fusion field, this one is important as it was the first time suppression was observed in a spherical tokamak.
What comes next?
The breakthrough in developing fusion reactors is not just a milestone for physics: it’s a huge leap for humanity in achieving limitless clean energy. Energy created by fusion will one day replace fossil fuels and keep the planet from being polluted. Through science and innovation, we’ve managed to create the sun here on Earth.