March 29, 2024

Korean tokamak sets new world record for operating time at 100 million degrees

Korean tokamak sets new world record for operating time at 100 million degrees

The researchers managed to maintain thermonuclear fusion at the Korean tokamak (KSTAR) for 20 seconds at an ion temperature of more than 100 million degrees.

In nuclear fusion from lighter atomsheavier ones are formed. Such processes take place in the cores of stars, where all chemical elements up to iron are gradually formed from hydrogen and helium. However, in order to overcome the Coulomb repulsion and force the nuclei to merge, extreme conditions are required (https://bitcryptonews.ru/news/tech/iskusstvennoe-solncze-razogreli-do-100-mln-gradusov).

In progresscombining light atoms is releasedexcess energy exceeding the cost of carrying out these reactions. Therefore, 8 countries are participating in the construction of the ITER, and researchers are improving the technology for maintaining fusion to safely meet the needs of mankind in energy.

Scientists from the Korea Thermonuclear Instituteenergy together with colleagues from Seoul National University and Columbia University were able to surpass the previous record by 2.5 times, achieving continuous operation of the installation at a temperature of 100 million degrees for 20 seconds.

KSTAR Researchers Will Share With The Worldthe results of experiments at the May IAEA conference on thermonuclear energy. The ultimate goal of the group is to maintain high-temperature plasma for 5 minutes

Recall that recently physicists have also taken the first step towards the development of a thermonuclear space engine.

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