China’s "Artificial Sun" Breaks Fusion Record, Sustains Plasma for Over 17 Minutes

Science & Technology Science

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-01-23 13:05:04 |

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China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), often referred to as the "artificial sun," has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by maintaining a high-confinement plasma state for 1,066 seconds—over 17 minutes. This record-setting accomplishment, achieved on January 20, signifies a major advancement in the pursuit of clean, limitless energy through fusion.

The feat was achieved by the Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) under the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It significantly surpasses EAST's previous record of 403 seconds, set in 2023.

The ultimate goal of the "artificial sun" project is to replicate the nuclear fusion processes of the sun, providing humanity with a sustainable and virtually unlimited energy source. Success in this endeavor could also open doors for interstellar exploration.

For over seven decades, scientists globally have worked toward harnessing fusion energy. Achieving this requires overcoming immense challenges, such as maintaining temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius, ensuring long-term operational stability, and achieving precise control of the fusion process.

"A fusion device must operate stably and efficiently for thousands of seconds to enable the self-sustaining circulation of plasma, a crucial requirement for continuous power generation in future fusion plants," stated SONG Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) and vice president of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS). He emphasized that the recent achievement marks a significant milestone toward developing a practical fusion reactor.

GONG Xianzu, head of EAST's Physics and Experimental Operations division, noted that several systems of the EAST device have undergone significant upgrades since the last round of experiments. For instance, the heating system, previously operating at a power equivalent to nearly 70,000 household microwave ovens, has now doubled its power output while maintaining stability and continuous operation.

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