The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor  in  China recently set a new record by maintaining its operational state for over 1,000 seconds (more than 17 minutes). 

China’s EAST Reactor Breakthrough

• This recent achievement surpasses its previous record of 400 seconds set in 2023.
• Real-life electricity-generating reactors would require this state to be maintained for hours, even days, at a stretch. 

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What is Nuclear Fusion?

• Nuclear fusion is the process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing enormous amounts of energy.
• It is the same process that powers the Sun and other stars, making it a potential clean and limitless energy source for the future.

How Nuclear Fusion Works?

• In fusion, two isotopes of hydrogen (Deuterium and Tritium) collide at extremely high temperatures.
• This forms a heavier helium nucleus, along with the release of neutrons and energy.
• The energy released is much greater than in nuclear fission (currently used in nuclear power plants).

Conditions Required for Fusion

• Temperature: Hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius, higher than the Sun’s core.
• State of Matter: At such temperatures, matter exists as plasma (a mix of charged particles).
• Containment: Plasma must be confined using powerful magnetic fields since no physical material can withstand such extreme heat.

Maintaining plasma stability is a major challenge. The slightest disruption in the magnetic field can collapse the reaction, which is why the recent breakthrough is important.

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Challenges in Achieving Fusion Energy

• Extreme Temperature Requirements: Plasma must be heated and maintained at millions of degrees.
• Sustained Reaction Difficulty: Plasma confinement for long periods is unstable.
• High Initial Costs: Research and reactor construction require billions of dollars.
• No Commercial Fusion Yet: Current fusion experiments do not yet generate electricity.

Progress in Global Fusion Research

1. International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), Cadarache, France: It is the world’s largest nuclear fusion research project.
2. JET Laboratory, UK (2021): Produced 12 MW of electricity for 5 seconds, enough to power 10,000 homes.
3. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA (2022): Achieved net energy gain for the first time, meaning the energy output was greater than the input.
4. MIT Research (2023): Developed new materials that can withstand extreme conditions inside fusion reactors.
5. China’s New Laser-Ignited Fusion Project (2024): Being developed to explore fusion energy and potentially aid thermonuclear weapons research.
6. Helion (USA): Plans to generate 50 MW of electricity by 2028 and supply it to Microsoft.
7. Commonwealth Fusion Systems (USA): Working with MIT to build a 400 MW grid-scale fusion plant by the early 2030s.

International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

• ITER is the world’s largest nuclear fusion research project, aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of fusion as a clean and sustainable energy source. 
• It is an international collaboration involving over 30 countries, including India. 
• The project is being constructed in Cadarache, France, and is expected to be a key milestone in developing commercial nuclear fusion reactors.

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Objectives of ITER

1. Demonstrate Feasibility: Prove that nuclear fusion can be a practical energy source.
2. Generate High Power: Produce 500 MW of fusion power from an input of 50 MW.
3. Sustain Plasma for Long Duration: Maintain plasma confinement for extended periods.
4. Test Key Technologies: Develop materials and mechanisms for future fusion reactors.
5. Advance Scientific Knowledge: Provide insights into plasma behavior and fusion physics.

Future of Fusion Energy

• Although a commercial fusion reactor is unlikely before 2050, recent breakthroughs have increased optimism.
• Unlike solar and wind energy, fusion can provide unlimited, continuous, and clean power without dependency on weather conditions.
• As technology advances and investments grow, nuclear fusion could revolutionize the energy sector, making fossil fuels and even other renewables less relevant.

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