◎ Science and Technology Daily reporter Wu Changfeng
The reporter learned from the Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that on the night of December 30, in the EAST control hall of the Plasma Institute of the Hefei Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the EAST full superconducting tokamak device (Oriental supercycle) known as the "artificial sun" of the national major scientific and technological infrastructure known as the "artificial sun" once again created a new world record, realizing a long pulse of 1056 seconds of high-parameter plasma operation, which is the longest high-temperature plasma operation achieved by the tokamak device in the world.
Courtesy of Hefei Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
It is reported that in the past 15 years of operation of the EAST device, it has achieved 1 trillion ampere, 160 million degrees, 1056 seconds of plasma operation, through the open and shared institutional management mode, fully realized the EAST design parameter indicators, and continued to maintain international leadership in the engineering and physics of steady-state plasma operation. The series of innovative achievements achieved by the EAST device provide an important experimental basis for the independent construction of fusion engineering experimental reactors. In recent years, with the support of Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center and other departments, the EAST device has undergone a series of performance upgrades, and this round of experiments began in early December 2021 and will continue until June 2022. The EAST big science team will launch an impact on scientific goals such as high-parameter steady-state and high-constraint plasma operation under similar conditions in future fusion reactors.
Nuclear fusion energy has the outstanding advantages of abundant resources, no carbon emissions and clean and safe, and is one of the most important clean energy sources in the future of mankind, which can make a significant contribution to achieving carbon peak carbon neutrality. In recent years, the cause of nuclear fusion research has been highly concerned by the party and state leaders, and with the strong support of national ministries and commissions, Anhui Province, Hefei City, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, etc., the magnetic confinement nuclear fusion research on Hefei Science Island has made rapid progress, and the results of physical experiments and engineering technology capabilities have led the international frontier.
Source: Science and Technology Daily
Editor: Zhang Qiqi
Review: Wang Xiaolong
Final Judge: Liu Haiying