China's nuclear fusion breakthrough produces 'artificial sun'

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/chinas-nuclear-fusion-breakthrough-produces-artificial-sun-671042

[font face=Serif][font size=5]China's nuclear fusion breakthrough produces 'artificial sun'[/font]

March 17, 2016 12:48 IST


China's nuclear fusion breakthrough produces 'artificial sun'. In picture: Technicians work on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion device, fondly known as "artificial sun", in Hefei of central China's Anhui province.Reuters

[font size=3]While the world is looking at renewable energy as a solution to its energy woes, nuclear fusion has always been considered an alternate. A nuclear fusion experiment conducted by the Hefei Institute of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Science has seen a breakthrough in this field, IANS reports.

Their Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion device, fondly known as "artificial sun" successfully made a pulse plasma discharge, producing heat in excess of 50 million Kelvin (just under 50 million degrees Celsius). The device sustained this pulse for 102 seconds.

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China's breakthrough puts it in the running with the European Union, USA, Russia and Japan that are considered to be front runners in fusion technology. Research is also underway in Brazil, Korea and Canada.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will be the world's largest fusion reactor, when its construction ends in 2019. The Business Standard reported last year that a team of Indian scientists in Gujarat is developing some key components integral to its functioning.[/font][/font]

[Gregorian]

1. 102 seconds.

For some reason I've always been fascinated by fusion. It's been a tough nut to crack.