Chinese “Artificial Sun” Sets a New World Record

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Chinese “Artificial Sun” Sets a New World Record

China has recently broken into the news as its “Artificial Sun” or the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) has set a new world record on December 30. EAST, a fusion energy reactor in Hefei ran at 70 million °C for 1,056 seconds, crossing 17 whole minutes.

The duration of this latest EAST operation is the longest time ever for a fusion energy reactor. Located in the capital of China’s Anhui Province, it has been in operation since 2006. The experiment is being conducted under the supervision of the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, for the Chinese Academy of Science.

According to the reports, this newly recorded attempt was five times hotter than the real sun. Gong Xianzu, a researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics of The Chinese Academy of Science (ASIPP), and the one in charge of the experiment, informed the world about this huge success on Friday. Xinhua, China’s news agency while quoting Gong reported, “We achieved a plasma temperature of 120 million °C for 101 seconds in an experiment done in the first half of 2021. This time, steady-state plasma operation was upheld for 1,056 seconds at a temperature near 70 million °C, laying a solid scientific and experimental foundation toward the running of a fusion reactor.”

It’s a big milestone for not only the researchers of China but for the whole world. It will open new prospects for the world and might prove to be a reliable source of energy in the near future.

 

What is EAST?

Nuclear fusion has been flaunted as the quintessential source of clean energy. However, it has always been a challenge for scientists to find ways to produce and utilize it safely.

The EAST project or the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak is a progressive experimental research device, which is experimenting to replicate the patterns of nuclear fusion similarly happening in the sun.

One of the three most important domestic tokamaks presently in function throughout the country; EAST has been inarguably the most successful till now. It is a part of the ITER or International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor establishment, which is aimed to become the world’s largest nuclear reactor once it comes into operation in 2035. Since 2006, the EAST has accounted for several records of continually holding significantly hot plasma, every time adding a plus to China’s nuclear research capabilities.

 

What Is The Purpose Behind The Artificial Sun?

The purpose of developing an “Artificial Sun” is to produce unlimited clean energy by replicating the nuclear fusions that occur in the sun or the stars. Its ultimate aim is to convert the enormous amount of energy produced by these nuclear experiments into electricity in order to serve the power needs of future generations.

This alternative option will substitute the traditional sources of energy production, such as fossil fuel. Moreover, it will help control the increasing global warming, saving us from a possible climate crisis.

 

How Does it Work?

Nuclear fusion is a process to generate high amounts of energy without leaving excess waste. Earlier, this work of energy production was done through nuclear fission. Though nuclear fission is easier to process, the waste generated in this process is more compared to that of nuclear fusion. Additionally, nuclear fusion does not cast greenhouse gases, therefore is considered a much safer way along with high results.

Nuclear fusion happens when immense heat and pressure are put on the atoms of hydrogen to merge them together. The EAST nuclear reactor uses deuterium, nuclei found in hydrogen to run the process of nuclear fusion and create heat and energy.

 

The Chinese Sunrise 

China is on an ever-expansive mode in every imaginable sphere and there seems to be no dearth of talent or knowledge. The scientists are putting in their best efforts to ensure that the Dragon flies higher in the 21st century. The Chinese resurgence is simply unbelievable and with every scientific achievement like the artificial sun, they’re beating their drums loud and clear. The artificial sun would help the scientific community understand the behavior of particles at extremely high temperature. It would also help humankind replicate the happenings that take place inside the sun and solve elusive scientific mysteries.

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