February 2016 might become a milestone calendar month in the history of nuclear spinal fusion . Last week , German scientists were able to createhydrogen plasmain a stellarator nuclear reactor , and nowChinese scientistsclaim they have performed the foresightful free burning chemical reaction in a tokamak .
The Taiwanese squad from the Hefei Institute of Physical Science were able to produce atomic number 1 blood plasma at 50 million Kelvin ( 49.999 million degrees Celsius , 89.999 million grade Fahrenheit ) and held it for an incredible 102 seconds . If the success is confirmed , it will be the longest free burning optical fusion response .
The Chinese lab performed the experiment in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak ( EAST ) , a donut - shaped nuclear fusion nuclear reactor that was manufacture by Soviet scientist . The tokamak is the most common design for a nuclear fusion nuclear reactor , and EAST is one of the precursors ofITER , a full - plate nuclear merger power works currently being build up in France . ITER is funded by an external collaboration of countries .
EAST was designed to test what incisively happens in a reactor when the hydrogen is conflate for a longsighted metre . The hydrogen plasma call for to be heated up to unbelievably eminent temperatures for long enough to harness the energy produced by the fusion reaction . The squad working on EAST has previouslymaintained atomic fusionin the nuclear reactor for 30 minute . The goal for EAST is to reach 1,000 seconds ( 17 transactions ) .
Interior of the reactor with the plasm in purple . The plasma needs to be preserve in suspension by hefty magnetised bailiwick . Hefei Institute of Physical Science , Chinese Academy of Sciences
For compare , the Wendelstein 7 - X ( W7X ) stellarator last calendar week was able-bodied to heat a swarm of hydrogen plasma to a temperature of about 80 million Kelvin and the reaction lasted for about 0.25 seconds . The German squad believes now that the proof - of - concept run are complete , they will be able to raise continuous fusion for up to 30 minute .
A peer - critique paper regarding the latest Formosan effort has not been put out yet , so we ’ll have to expect to rule out if and how they achieved this final result . If all is confirmed , it could spell great tidings for nuclear fusion , as two dissimilar technology are both progressing full speed towards the common goal of ample , cheap , clean vim .
