In the last month of 2021, at the Science Island next to the Dongpu Reservoir in the western suburbs of Hefei, Anhui Province, the Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the all-superconducting tokamak nuclear fusion experimental device (EAST), known as the "artificial sun", was put into operation again.
Earlier this month, a new round of experiments began. Song Yuntao, vice president of the Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Institute of Plasma Physics, told reporters that the experiment is based on the summary of the results of the previous round of experiments and the upgrading of systems such as EAST auxiliary heating, with the goal of making the "artificial sun" more "hot" and more "durable".
Everything grows by the sun, can we create an "artificial sun" on the earth and realize the dream of a steady stream of clean energy supply for human beings? In the middle of the 20th century, human beings began to study nuclear fusion energy, and in the 1970s, the Chinese Academy of Sciences set up a research group to study tokamak, and gradually laid out points in Hefei and other places.
It is about 11 meters high, about 8 meters in diameter, weighs more than 400 tons, and looks like a huge "jar" - this is east, which brings together cutting-edge technologies such as "ultra-high temperature", "ultra-low temperature", "ultra-high vacuum", "super magnetic field" and "super current" in a "tank" to simulate the nuclear fusion reaction mechanism of the sun.
Full superconducting tokamak nuclear fusion experimental device (EAST) taken on April 13, 2021. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhou Mu
In the more than 10 years since its establishment, a total of more than 10,000 Chinese and foreign scientific researchers have worked together to impact the dream of "artificial sun" on this large scientific device, and have achieved major international breakthroughs such as stable 101.2 second steady-state long pulse high-confinement plasma operation and electron temperature 100 million degrees Celsius 20 second plasma operation.
In the EAST control hall, every once in a while, the alarm lights flash and the timer starts on the large central screen, after which the line of numbers in the upper left corner increases. "105689", this is the number of experimental discharges of the "artificial sun" that the reporter saw during the interview in recent days. In the early morning of May 28 this year, this number is still "98958", and it is this time that EAST achieved 120 million degrees Celsius and 101 seconds of plasma operation, setting a new world record.
East control hall after the success of the experiment taken in the early morning of May 28, 2021. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhou Mu
"In the past, researchers were sent abroad for further study, but now more and more foreign scholars are coming to Science Island to 'learn from the scriptures.'" Song Yuntao told reporters that the Institute of Plasma Physics has carried out "me-based" international cooperation, established an international fusion energy joint research center, and has established cooperative and exchange relations with more than 30 countries and regions, "In 5 years, at least 300 scientists around the world will use EAST to carry out research work." ”
Exploration is endless, the potential of the "artificial sun" is unlimited, and the derivative technology of nuclear fusion research is quietly changing our lives. Hefei's subway uses plasma air purifiers, and "proton knives" are becoming an important cancer treatment. In addition, applications such as terahertz, maglev trains, and nuclear magnetic resonance are underway. Song Yuntao introduced that they led the establishment of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center Energy Research Institute, and cooperated with some high-energy-consuming enterprises to jointly carry out the transformation of achievements in "double carbon" and other aspects.
The reporter saw Qian Jinping, the head of east experiment operation, in the control hall, who graduated from college 21 years ago and "landed on the island" to study nuclear fusion, witnessed the process of "artificial sun" from scratch, and now once again lives a "seven-to-nine" experimental life. "For now, this round of experiments will continue at least until May next year." Qian Jinping told reporters that just like athletes running, the speed is gradually raised, "Now EAST experiments with more than 100 times a day, and gradually detects performance in the process of continuous heating and discharge, and finally reaches the best state." ”
East control hall photographed on December 15. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Duan
At present, the next generation of "artificial sun" - China fusion engineering experimental reactor has completed the engineering design, and the fusion reactor host key system comprehensive research facility is under construction. Just like the father of The Kwa in Chinese myths and legends, in the eyes of Song Yuntao and other scientific and technological workers, the new year is "towards the 'sun' and then set off." (Reporters Chen Nuo and Xu Haitao)