Major Step Toward 'Artificial Sun' After 100 Million Celsius Test

Scientists have made a major breakthrough in fusion energy research by achieving a world record of 100 million degrees Celsius for over 1,000 seconds. This milestone brings the development of an "artificial sun" closer, a key step toward unlocking sustainable, clean energy. By mimicking the processes that power the sun, this achievement paves the way for future fusion reactors, with China aiming to build a functional industrial fusion reactor by 2035.

Scientists have made significant progress toward creating an "artificial sun" that could potentially supply the Earth with an endless energy source. This achievement is part of their effort to harness nuclear fusion, a process that could generate clean, sustainable energy by replicating the reactions occurring naturally in the sun.

At a Chinese fusion reactor, researchers successfully maintained plasma temperatures over 100 million degrees for more than 1,000 seconds, setting a new world record. This breakthrough brings humanity closer to making nuclear fusion a viable energy solution, with the potential to generate heat seven times hotter than the sun's core.

The successful experiment took place at the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), where hydrogen and deuterium gases were used as fuel to simulate the fusion processes that occur within the sun's core. Scientists believe that achieving sustained plasma temperatures hotter than those in the sun is crucial for meeting Earth's energy demands.

The core temperature of the sun is estimated to reach around 15 million degrees Celsius. According to Song Yuntao, the director of EAST, achieving self-sustaining plasma is essential for fusion power plants to generate electricity continuously, requiring the device to operate with high efficiency and stability over extended periods.

Despite these advancements, creating a reactor capable of sustaining nuclear fusion remains a major challenge. It would require specially designed walls made from materials that can withstand extreme conditions, which is a difficult task, according to experts.

Zhou Haishan, a professor at Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, explained that developing durable materials resistant to damage is a complex process. To test these materials, advanced simulation environments are required.

In 2023, EAST successfully maintained plasma for nearly seven minutes, breaking the previous record of 403 seconds. The Chinese National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is overseeing the development of this "artificial sun," with plans to create the first industrial prototype fusion reactor by 2035. China aims to make fusion technology available for large-scale commercial use by 2050.

Nuclear fusion is often referred to as an “artificial sun” because its reactions are similar to those in the sun, where hydrogen atoms are fused into heavier atoms, generating immense energy. If these efforts succeed, nuclear fusion could provide a safe, clean, and nearly limitless energy source for the future.

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Source: thesun‍