China’s “artificial sun” EAST thermonuclear fusion reactor has surpassed all expectations by maintaining a stable and highly confined plasma for 1,066 seconds, equivalent to more than 17 minutes of continuous operation. This achievement breaks the previous record of 403 seconds set in 2023 and represents a significant step towards the development of clean and sustainable energy .
China’s artificial sun leads nuclear fusion experiments
Located at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, EAST aims to replicate the conditions of nuclear fusion on the sun . This type of energy, which uses abundant materials in seawater, could provide an inexhaustible and clean source for the future. Since its commissioning in 2006, the reactor has been a key platform for international experiments in nuclear fusion.
According to Song Yuntao, the project’s lead scientist, recent advances include a significant increase in particle temperature and density, which are essential factors for increasing the efficiency and reducing the costs of future power plants based on this technology.
Nuclear fusion as a solution
This development positions China as a leader in the race to master nuclear fusion, a technology that could transform the way the world generates energy . Furthermore, as an open platform, EAST continues to attract scientists from around the world to collaborate on pioneering experiments.
The reactor’s success also reinforces the global commitment to renewable energy research, underlining the importance of international cooperation in meeting the energy challenges of the future.
Looking to the future
With this new record, EAST demonstrates the viability of nuclear fusion as an energy source and paves the way for the development of commercial fusion plants. This breakthrough could mark the beginning of an era where clean and sustainable energy is accessible to all.
The future of energy may be closer than we imagine, and China’s ” artificial sun ” is a bright light on that path.
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Source: Diario Libre
Photo: EAST