Articles tagged with Fusion Reactors
Researchers have developed high-temperature superconducting materials that can operate at high magnetic fields, opening a new path to fusion energy. These materials could enable the creation of compact, power-producing reactors capable of producing 500 MW of fusion power.
Researchers at Durham University have re-examined the economics of fusion, taking account of recent advances in superconductor technology. Their analysis shows that fusion energy could be financially feasible compared to traditional fission nuclear power. The study identifies new advantages in using this new technology.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed a new type of nuclear fusion process that produces almost no neutrons, instead releasing fast and heavy electrons. This allows for the creation of smaller and simpler fusion reactors with instant electrical energy production.
Researchers at MIT propose a compact tokamak fusion reactor that could produce significant power in a decade. The new design uses commercially available superconductors to achieve higher magnetic fields, enabling more efficient fusion reactions.
Scientists at MIT and General Atomics successfully controlled the density of a fusion plasma using radio waves. The experiments revealed that turbulent density fluctuations intensify when most heat goes to electrons, which can be used to minimize turbulence and optimize core temperature under fusion conditions.
The University of Washington's fusion reactor design has the potential to produce economical fusion power, rivaling costs for new coal-fired plants with similar electrical output. The dynomak reactor uses a magnetic field within a closed space to hold plasma in place, allowing for continuous heating and electricity generation.
Researchers at NIFS have successfully fabricated a large-scale magnet conductor using a novel method that stacks yttrium-based high-temperature superconducting tapes. The conductor achieved an electrical current of 100,000 amperes and a current density exceeding 40 A/mm2.
Scientists at DIII-D National Fusion Facility shed light on mechanisms that eject fast ions from plasma, enabling detailed tests of models predicting these effects in future reactors. By analyzing particle interactions with multiple waves, researchers gain unprecedented insight into fundamental wave-particle physics.
Researchers worldwide are embarking on DEMO projects to demonstrate fusion energy production, following the construction of ITER in France. The challenges ahead include finding solutions to well-known scientific and technical issues.
A multi-institutional team has discovered how ultra-thin lithium films on graphite walls control plasma behavior in nuclear fusion devices. The study reveals that oxygen plays a key role in bonding deuterium atoms, while lithium brings it to the surface.
A recent article casts doubt on Sir Bernard Lovell's alleged brainwashing by the Soviets during a Cold War visit. According to Lovell's son Bryan, the reason for his father's illness may have been exhaustion rather than Soviet mind control.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a novel method for containing hot plasma using mug-handle-like coils, which require less energy than current methods. The new approach stabilizes the plasma, enabling more efficient fusion energy production.
Researchers aim to develop models that predict material response over years and decades for plasma reactor operation. The team will examine how surfaces respond to energetic neutrons and ions, tackling a critical aspect of achieving fusion energy.
UT researchers successfully test technology to insulate and stabilize central solenoid, a critical component in experimental fusion reactor. The technology uses a glass fiber and epoxy mixture to provide electrical insulation and strength.
American researchers conclude that prospective magnetic fusion power systems would pose a much lower risk of being used for the production of weapon-usable materials. The study found that with IAEA safeguards, there is little risk of fissile materials being produced for weapons.
New research at MIT's Alcator C-Mod tokamak provides insight into the transport of impurities in fusion plasmas, a crucial step towards improving reactor performance. By tracking impurities using high-resolution spectrometry and computer simulations, scientists aim to develop more accurate models for predicting impurity behavior.
A team of scientists found that increasing lithium coating in the wall of an experimental fusion reactor greatly improves plasma confinement. This leads to smaller and cheaper fusion machines. The study also enhances certain plasma properties aiding the reaction.
Scientists have captured the first 2-D visualization of Alfvén waves and the energetic particles that ride them to fusion reactor walls. These images show a torus-shaped plasma with spiral waves and particles arriving at the wall in synchronization with the waves.
Researchers at Purdue University have discovered critical mechanisms for the plasma-material interface in nuclear fusion test reactors. The findings show promise for developing new coatings capable of withstanding extreme conditions inside the reactors.
A team of researchers from UC San Diego, MIT, and UC Berkeley are working on fundamental multiscale studies of plasma-material interactions to improve the scientific understanding of magnetic confinement fusion. Their goal is to engineer plasma walls that can survive in the environment necessary for fusion power generation.
Researchers at MIT's Alcator C-Mod fusion reactor have found an efficient way to push the hot plasma around inside the vessel, preventing heat loss and turbulence. This breakthrough could be crucial to the success of future power-generating fusion reactors like ITER.
Researchers at University of Warwick develop a technique to detect ordered patterns in plasma, crowds and birds using mutual information, outperforming traditional statistical tools. The new tool could uncover patterns in stock market behavior and provide insights into complex systems.
Eugenio Schuster, a controls engineer at Lehigh University, has received a five-year NSF CAREER Award to develop active control systems for nuclear fusion reactors. The goal is to regulate the density, current, and temperature of plasmas in fusion reactors to achieve self-sustaining fusion reactions.
The Cluster mission has successfully identified a magnetic null point in space, revealing an unexpected vortex structure about 500 km across. This discovery provides scientists with their first look at the heart of the reconnection process, which drives powerful phenomena such as solar flares and black hole jets.
Researchers at Purdue University have confirmed findings by Rusi Taleyarkhan, using a tabletop device to produce nuclear fusion reactions through the use of ultrasound. The experiment produced neutrons in the range of 2.5 MeV and tritium, providing evidence for thermonuclear fusion.
Scientists have devised a method to more effectively dampen vertical instabilities in tokamak fusion reactors, allowing for improved control of electrical currents and magnetic fields. This development aims to increase the efficiency of fusion reactions and is an important step towards building the next-generation fusion reactor by 2015.
The Idaho National Laboratory has recognized five scientists, William Apel, James Delmore, Paul Meakin, David Petti, and Herschel Smartt, as its first-ever Laboratory Fellows. They were selected based on their professional knowledge, scientific achievements, and national technical leadership.
The UCLA-Maryland Center for Multiscale Plasma Dynamics will investigate three plasma mysteries: sawteeth, tearing instabilities, and transport barriers. The research aims to improve the performance of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) and develop a safe, nearly limitless energy source.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Lab team successfully decommissioned the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor without significant radiological exposure. The $40.3 million project was completed under budget, demonstrating a safe dismantling process for large fusion facilities.
The Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) has been safely dismantled and removed, marking a significant milestone in the history of fusion research. The successful decommissioning demonstrates the promise of fusion as an environmentally attractive energy source, with minimal production of waste.
A US team, led by MIT, has completed a 40-ton magnet that will be used to test the world's most powerful pulsed superconducting magnet. The combined magnet weighs over 150 tons and is part of an international collaboration to demonstrate nuclear fusion as an energy source.
Researchers propose a colliding beam fusion reactor fueled by protons and boron, reducing radioactivity and environmental impact. The new design could replace all gas-powered plants worldwide with minimal greenhouse gas emissions.
The ORNL pellet blaster uses frozen pellets to strip contaminants from surfaces, leaving no residue. This method is safer and more efficient than traditional paint stripping methods, making it suitable for various industries including defense, aerospace, and manufacturing.
A new theory on plasma turbulence warns that ITER's energy confinement could be shortened, making it difficult to ignite a fusion burn. The theory's calculations suggest ITER might only produce a few times the energy used to heat the plasma, rendering it unreliable for generating abundant power.
Researchers at Cornell University are working on two projects, COBRA and FIREX, to create a new approach to fusion energy production. COBRA aims to investigate the use of ion beams as an alternative to laser beams for inertial fusion, while FIREX focuses on magnetic fusion and its potential to replace Tokamaks.