How to contain a substance seven times hotter than the Sun
In short: To generate fusion energy on Earth, scientists must recreate the conditions of a star without its massive gravity. This video explores how China's EAST reactor uses massive magnets to trap 180 million degree Fahrenheit plasma in a vacuum.
Because Earth lacks the Sun's immense mass to squeeze hydrogen nuclei together, reactors must compensate with extreme heat. To prevent the fuel from vaporizing the machine, a 582-ton magnet creates a magnetic field that holds the plasma in a doughnut-shaped loop, separated from the walls by empty space.
China's EAST reactor recently achieved a milestone by holding plasma steady for 1,066 seconds. While fusion offers a path to carbon-free power and seawater fuel, significant hurdles remain, including tritium supply, neutron damage, and reactor wall durability.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: China Is Keeping Something 7X Hotter Than The Sun Alive
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