This photo taken on April 12, 2023 shows the control center of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) after a successful experiment in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
HEFEI, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor.
The breakthrough, achieved after more than 120,000 shots, greatly improved the original world record of 101 seconds, which was set by EAST in 2017.
The ultimate goal of EAST, located at the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) in Hefei, is to create nuclear fusion like the sun, using substances abundant in the sea to provide a steady stream of clean energy.
Song Yuntao, ASIPP director, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that the main significance of this breakthrough lies in the high confinement mode.
The temperature and density of particles have been greatly increased during high confinement plasma operation, which will lay a solid foundation for improving the power generation efficiency of future fusion power plants and reducing costs, he said.
As opposed to fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which are in limited supply and have great environmental impact, the "artificial sun" requires raw materials that are almost unlimited on earth. Fusion energy is considered safer and cleaner, and therefore the ideal "ultimate energy" for the future of humanity.
Since its operation in 2006, the Chinese-designed and -developed EAST has been an open test platform for Chinese and international scientists to conduct fusion-related experiments and research.
At present, the engineering design of the future China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR), which is seen as the next-generation "artificial sun," has been completed, aiming to build the world's first fusion demonstration reactor. ■
Researchers pose for a group photo after the success of an experiment at the control center of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)
Gong Xianzu (R), a researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) who is in charge of an experiment in the steady-state high confinement plasma operation of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), and ASIPP director Song Yuntao celebrate after the experiment succeeded at the control center of the EAST in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Gong Xianzu (1st R), a researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) who is in charge of an experiment in the steady-state high confinement plasma operation of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), communicates with colleagues at the control center of the EAST in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
This combo photo shows Li Kedong, a researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) before (above) and after (below) the success of an experiment at the control center of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)
Gong Xianzu, a researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) who is in charge of an experiment in the steady-state high confinement plasma operation of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), checks experimental data after the experiment succeeded at the control center of the EAST in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)
Gong Xianzu, a researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) who is in charge of an experiment in the steady-state high confinement plasma operation of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), texts friends to celebrate the success of an experiment at the control center of the EAST in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Gong Xianzu (1st L), a researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) who is in charge of an experiment in the steady-state high confinement plasma operation of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), communicates with colleagues during the experiment at the control center of the EAST in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)
Researchers await the results for an experiment at the control center of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Researchers celebrate the success of an experiment at the control center of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
Researchers celebrate the success of an experiment at the control center of the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 12, 2023.
The experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), or the Chinese "artificial sun," achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds on Wednesday, a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)
