China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), known as the “artificial sun,” has set a new world record by sustaining a steady-state high-confinement plasma at over 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,066 seconds.
The breakthrough was achieved at the facility located in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province. This milestone demonstrates the potential for stable operation in future fusion reactors, bringing humanity a step closer to harnessing the power of fusion energy.
Advancing Fusion Technology
EAST’s achievement lies in maintaining the plasma in a steady-state high-confinement mode (H-mode), which significantly reduces turbulence at the plasma edge. This enhancement improves energy confinement and effectively doubles the confinement time compared to the low-confinement mode (L-mode). H-mode is considered the preferred operational mode for future fusion reactors, including large-scale projects like the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).
The facility’s ability to sustain H-mode operation at extreme temperatures provides valuable data and experience for advancing practical fusion energy. Since its commissioning in 2006, EAST has conducted over 150,000 plasma experiments, continuously pushing the limits of long-pulse, high-confinement mode operations.
A Step Toward Clean Energy
EAST is designed to mimic the fusion reactions that power the Sun by using hydrogen and deuterium gases as fuel. The insights gained are critical for developing industrial-scale reactors to generate clean and sustainable energy, offering a potential solution to global energy needs.
The facility incorporates advanced technologies such as superconducting magnets, ultra-high vacuum systems, and precision control mechanisms to manage ultra-strong magnetic fields and large electric currents. With nearly one million components working in coordination, EAST has secured approximately 2,000 patents.
Breaking Previous Records
The recent achievement of sustaining H-mode for 1,066 seconds builds on previous milestones, including 30 seconds in 2012, 60 seconds in 2016, 101 seconds in 2017, and 403 seconds earlier in 2023. Each milestone represents significant progress in fusion research, bringing us closer to achieving continuous and controlled fusion reactions.
Global Impact
EAST’s success not only signifies a triumph for China but also contributes to the global pursuit of fusion energy. The data and experience gained will benefit international collaborations and large-scale projects aiming to develop practical fusion reactors.
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China's 'artificial sun' sets new world record: 100m C for 1,066 sec
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