The plasma current of the HL-2M Tokamak nuclear fusion reactor has surpassed 1,000,000 amperes, marking a significant milestone in the development of fusion energy.
“New generation artificial sun” of China, HL-2M Tokamak. (Photo: CNNC).
The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced that with a plasma current exceeding 1,000,000 amperes, the HL-2M Tokamak – “artificial sun” of the new generation in China, has set a new record in the country for controlled nuclear fusion device operations, according to CGTN on October 21. The HL-2M Tokamak is the largest and most advanced fusion reactor in China, having commenced operations in December 2020.
The plasma current is a core parameter of the tokamak fusion reactor. A current of 1,000,000 amperes is necessary for achieving nuclear fusion, according to CNNC.
“This new breakthrough marks a significant advancement in the process of nuclear fusion burning in the research and development of fusion energy in China,” said Zhong Wulv, deputy director of the Nuclear Fusion Science Center at the Southwest Institute of Physics under CNNC, who leads the HL-2M experiment.
Nuclear fusion occurs in the core of the sun, providing thermal energy and light to this star. Fusion energy is considered ideal due to its abundance and inherent safety. Scientists worldwide have been researching ways to achieve controlled nuclear fusion for decades, and the experimental fusion devices are referred to as “artificial suns.”
The latest breakthrough indicates that the device can operate regularly with a plasma current exceeding 1,000,000 amperes in the future and conduct advanced scientific research. This has significant implications for China’s participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project as well as for the independent design and operation of fusion reactors.
