Nuclear fusion powers the stars and offers the promise of unlimited, clean energy on Earth.
But controlled thermonuclear fusion in the lab usually requires large and expensive magnetic field coils to stably confine burning plasma, ionized nuclei that collide to initiate nuclear fusion. A&A’s Fusion Z-Pinch Experiments (FuZE) Lab has demonstrated a smaller, cheaper method: We have measured sustained nuclear fusion for the first time from a 50-cm long plasma column called a Z-pinch. This method compresses a flowing plasma using electromagnetic forces, which drive the plasma to higher temperatures and densities.
While the Z-pinch is not a new plasma confinement concept, it was largely abandoned as a path for fusion energy because the plasma was not stable, which limited how long it could be confined. To get around this issue, we exploited the fact that flows can stabilize plasma, and our flowing plasma was maintained five thousand times longer than a static plasma. We also observed the sustained release of telltale energetic neutrons signaling nuclear fusion. Because this approach provides a path to nuclear fusion without coils, it could be used in the future for long-duration fusion burns in a compact and low-cost device.
Learn more: Plasma flows may provide the missing ingredient to a cheaper, more compact route to nuclear fusion
The Latest on: Nuclear fusion
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The Latest on: Nuclear fusion
- US and Japan team up to further development of nuclear fusion: 'Fusion is too important for needless competition'on April 26, 2024 at 3:00 am
"We are further leading the way in developing and deploying next generation clean energy technology." US and Japan team up to further development of nuclear fusion: 'Fusion is too important for ...
- Nuclear fusion experiment overcomes two key operating hurdleson April 25, 2024 at 9:43 am
Two important barriers to a stable, powerful fusion reaction have been leapt by an experiment in a small tokamak reactor, but we don’t yet know if the technique will work in larger devices ...
- Nuclear fusion breakthrough overcomes key barrier to limitless clean energyon April 25, 2024 at 5:48 am
Two of the key barriers to producing power from nuclear fusion have been overcome, in what scientists say is a major advance towards producing near-limitless clean energy. A team at US energy firm ...
- US startup’s fusion energy device reaches 37-million-degree temperatureon April 23, 2024 at 8:05 am
The fusion of the atoms gives out 10 million times more energy per ounce than burning the same amount of coal.
- Nuclear fusion scientists hail 'low-cost' 37 million °C breakthroughon April 23, 2024 at 8:00 am
A nuclear fusion start-up says it has hit temperatures of 37 million °C at a “fraction of the complexity and cost” of its rivals. Scientists at Zap Energy say they have “joined the rarefied ranks” to ...
- Tom Still: Fusion energy is a nascent ‘hot spot’ for Wisconsin economy’on April 22, 2024 at 5:35 am
Wisconsin has a competitive advantage in fusion research, with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Fusio Institute producing 167 Ph.D. graduates in fusion engineering. Private investment in the ...
- MUSE Nuclear Fusion Stellerator Made with Off the Shelf Parts and 3D Printed Shellon April 22, 2024 at 2:16 am
The Princeton Physics Lab has built a Stellarator nuclear fusion reactor prototype using permanent magnets. This is a scientific first that enables mostly off the shelf magnet for simple and low cost ...
- Nuclear fusion reactor in South Korea runs at 100 million degrees C for a record-breaking 48 secondson April 14, 2024 at 7:58 am
The experimental fusion reactor sustained temperatures of 180 million degrees Fahrenheit for a record-breaking 48 seconds.
- Why are Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, bullish on developing nuclear fusion as a power source?on April 13, 2024 at 11:46 am
While nuclear fission is commonly used in nuclear power plants across the globe, nuclear fusion is a lesser-known process.
- Nuclear Fusion Is Not A Moonshot But An Attainable Goalon April 8, 2024 at 5:45 am
Physicists may remember December 5, 2022, as the day nuclear fusion got its legs and walked for the first time. That’s when the National Ignition Facility produced more energy than it used to ...
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