皇冠体育app

A new wave of fusion energy experiments on the UK Atomic Energy Authority鈥檚 record-breaking Joint European Torus (JET) started this month.

EUROfusion researchers are using the famous JET machine to conduct a series of tests using helium to help inform future operations at ITER, the fusion mega-project under construction in Southern France.

ITER is expected to start operations using helium and hydrogen test plasmas before commencing experiments with deuterium and tritium, the more efficient fuel used by JET to break the world record for sustained fusion energy at the end of 2021.

EUROfusion researchers will study the behaviour of the plasmas as well as test the impact of helium on JET鈥檚 tungsten and beryllium wall to help ITER efficiently build up to full power operations. 皇冠体育app new experiments at Culham Science Centre, Oxford, started this month and will run for up to 16 weeks.

Dr Tim Luce, ITER鈥檚 Head of Science and Operation, said:

鈥淎n essential element of the ITER Research Plan is to explore control of the plasma interaction with the wall at high fusion temperatures.聽This needs to be addressed in the initial research phases before deuterium and tritium are used to produce fusion power in ITER.

鈥淲e have great expectations for how these experiments can help us optimise our plan to move as efficiently as possible into deuterium-tritium operation.鈥�

JET is unique in its capabilities not only for deuterium-tritium operation, but also for operating in the required high confinement mode with pure helium聽and with the ITER wall materials.

Fernanda Rimini, JET Senior Manager, said:

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp ground-breaking research and innovation being done in the UK, in the framework of the EUROfusion consortium and with our partners across the globe, is all geared towards making fusion energy a reality.

鈥淛ET is one of the most important machines in the history of fusion. After breaking the record for sustained energy last year, these important new experiments will prove more science and provide crucial data for the ITER team as they prepare for operations, ultimately saving time and money on our roadmap to delivering fusion power to the grid.鈥�

Record JET results announced in February were the clearest demonstration worldwide of the potential for fusion energy, which is based on the same processes that power the sun and stars, to deliver safe and sustainable low carbon energy in the future.

皇冠体育app record fifty-nine megajoules of sustained fusion energy was produced at JET by researchers from the EUROfusion consortium of experts, students and staff from across Europe, co-funded by the European Commission.