Plasma physicists have achieved temperatures nearing 75 million degrees Celsius at the Norman fusion reactor in California, significantly surpassing the approximate 15 million degrees Celsius found in the Sun’s core.
The Norman Reactor is operated by a scientific team from TAE Technologies. Launched in 2017 and initially designed to maintain stable plasma at 30 million degrees Celsius, the Norman reactor has undergone numerous improvements since then, Newsweek reported on July 20.
The Norman fusion reactor reaches plasma temperatures of up to 75 million degrees Celsius. (Photo: TAE Technologies)
Fusion reactions involve the merging of two atomic nuclei, resulting in a heavier nucleus along with the release of energy. This is the same process that powers the Sun, where hydrogen atoms fuse into helium under extreme temperatures and pressures. For decades, researchers have been striving to replicate this process on Earth due to its potential to provide a source of energy that does not emit greenhouse gases and produces significantly less radioactive waste. The primary challenge they have yet to overcome is sustaining the fusion reaction long enough to generate more energy than is consumed.
TAE Technologies was founded in 1998 with the aim of developing commercial-scale fusion energy. The company’s Norman Reactor operates by heating hydrogen gas to such high temperatures that it transforms into plasma, a state of matter composed of positively charged ions and negatively charged electrons. The system fires two clouds of hydrogen plasma into a central reaction chamber, where they are confined by magnets, heated, and stabilized.
While still requiring powerful magnets, TAE claims their method is highly optimized due to the use of hydrogen-boron fuel, which maximizes the reactor’s lifespan. The massive machine measures 24 meters long, 6.7 meters high, and weighs approximately 27 tons. The Norman reactor consumes 750 megawatts of electricity each time it operates, equivalent to a small-scale power plant. Google joined the project in 2014 to apply data science and machine learning to the research and provide investment funding.
TAE announced this new temperature breakthrough following the completion of a $250 million funding round. The company is currently developing its next fusion reactor model named Copernicus.
