Articles tagged with Tokamaks
Researchers at PPPL develop a safer, more effective way to create a star on Earth by injecting boron powder into plasma. This technique reduces greenhouse gases and long-term radioactive waste, while increasing heat output for electricity generation.
Eugenio Schuster's research teams work on existing tokamaks to advance ITER efforts, focusing on plasma control and confinement. The European Union, China, and other countries have committed resources to build ITER, the largest fusion reactor in history.
Physicist Fatima Ebrahimi's high-resolution simulations show that CHI can produce continuous current in larger tokamaks, enabling stable fusion plasmas. The technique creates magnetic bubbles to induce current, which could be used in fusion facilities worldwide
Researchers at PPPL develop new mathematical tools to forecast wave presence in fusion experiments, providing new methods for maintaining plasma confinement. Meanwhile, scientists also find unexpected links between astrophysical processes and small-scale experiments, shedding light on magnetic reconnection.
A team at DIII-D National Fusion Facility used a rugged magnetic sensor and high-performance computing to capture fast ion fluctuations. This data will help improve computer models that interpret the behavior of fast ions, enabling real-time control and efficient heating of plasma in future reactors.
Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory developed new mathematical tools to forecast when waves will cool plasma and quench fusion reactions. A second beam injected at a different angle can suppress the effect of waves, providing new methods for maintaining plasma confinement.
Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory create simulation framework to fine-tune plasma startup recipes for NSTX-U and MAST-U experiments. The tool enables operators to quickly achieve a balance between electric and magnetic fields, significantly reducing experimentation time.
Researchers discovered a small misalignment of magnetic coils in a tokamak facility that caused errors and deviations from optimal alignment, leading to increased localized heating and reduced plasma rotation. The findings have implications for future fusion devices like ITER, with improved engineering tolerance requirements proposed.
Physicists have confirmed an updated computer code can predict and prevent leaks in fusion plasmas, reducing energy loss and damaging machines. The revised TRANSP code accurately models particle behavior, enabling better understanding and prediction of instability effects.
A nationwide program to unify research on liquid metal components for future tokamaks will be coordinated by Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory's Rajesh Maingi. The three-year project aims to develop a strategy for coating the divertor with flowing liquid lithium to protect it from extreme heat.
TAE Technologies, backed by DOE funding through INCITE program, aims to achieve commercially viable nuclear fusion energy. The company's FRC device seeks to confine plasma at high temperatures for extended periods, paving the way for sustainable, carbon-free energy production.
Researchers propose a new measurement technique to stabilize plasma in next-generation magnetic fusion devices. By combining Electron Cyclotron Emission data with high-neutron environment imaging, the system provides robust diagnostics for mapping and controlling plasma equilibrium.
Physicists at PPPL used codes developed at General Atomics to compare theoretical predictions of electron and ion turbulent transport with findings of the first campaign of the NSTX-U. Analysis found that a major factor behind energy losses was anomalous electron transport, which spread rapidly like milk mixing with coffee.
Researchers have upgraded a device to test lithium's ability to maintain heat and protect walls in a tokamak, which could help bring fusion energy to Earth. The machine uses a coating of lithium to cover the interior wall of the small tokamak, aiming to replicate fusion on Earth for virtually inexhaustible power.
A team of scientists has applied deep learning to forecast sudden disruptions in fusion reactions, enabling more accurate predictions and potentially unlocking clean and virtually limitless fusion energy. The Fusion Recurrent Neural Network (FRNN) code also opens pathways for controlling disruptions.
Researchers confirm effectiveness of transient coaxial helical injection (CHI) technique, which could facilitate constant fusion reactions and free up space in compact spherical tokamaks. The technique eliminates the need for a central magnet, simplifying design and potentially improving performance.
Physicist Jon Menard's study examines the potential of compact tokamaks with high-temperature superconducting magnets to produce fusion reactions. The findings suggest that lower aspect ratios could improve plasma stability and confinement, but also require new techniques to produce initial plasma current.
Researchers have developed a novel prototype to rapidly control plasma disruptions in fusion facilities. The 'electromagnetic particle injector' (EPI) device uses high-velocity projectiles to release material into the plasma, reducing its impact on the tokamak walls.
Physicists at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have directly observed a possible process that can trigger damaging ELMs in tokamak devices. The findings reveal correlations between fluctuations in plasma density and magnetic field fluctuations, which could lead to a new method for triggering ELMs.
Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have discovered a process that can help control disruptions in fusion plasmas, a key challenge for generating clean energy. The process focuses on stabilizing tearing modes, which create magnetic islands that can trigger disruptive events and halt fusion reactions.
Researchers from PPPL presented their work on controlling plasma instabilities in fusion reactions, enabling high-performance plasmas. They also explored the formation of stars and planets through experiments on black hole magnetorotational instability.
Researchers aim to control and stabilize nuclear fusion reactions using heat and magnetic fields. Studies focus on regulating plasma temperature and density to produce fusion power while avoiding thermal instabilities.
Researchers developed a predictive model to identify the most beneficial 3D distortions for controlling edge localized modes (ELMs) in tokamaks. The KSTAR facility validated these predictions with remarkable accuracy, paving the way for ITER's successful operation.
US and international physicists made substantial progress toward planning a system for mitigating disruptions on ITER, which can seriously damage the facility. Key methods outlined include shattered pellet injection to control disruptions, as well as simulation tools to predict plasma behavior and predict disruptions in time.
Physicists Dr. Nate Ferraro and Dr. Sam Lazerson of PPPL have won Early Career Research awards to develop better designs for doughnut-shaped tokamaks and twisty stellarators, aiming to produce virtually inexhaustible fusion power. They will focus on minimizing disruptions and confining energetic particles in stellarators.
Researchers at PPPL will develop innovative X-ray diagnostics to measure plasma temperature and density, as well as tungsten content. The new instruments will provide vital information for future fusion devices.
Scientists have modeled plasma conditions that lead to chirping in fusion devices, revealing a connection between turbulence levels and Alfvén wave chirping. Lower turbulence reduces the fast ion wind's ability to cause chirping, which can slow fusion reactions.
Researchers have found that lithium can eliminate periodic instabilities in plasma known as edge-localized modes (ELMs) when used to coat tungsten surfaces. This improvement has good news for future devices designed to work with lithium, which can damage the divertor and cause fusion reactions to fizzle.
Scientists developed new simulations that model the behavior of plasma blobs in tokamaks, which can drain heat and hinder fusion reactions. The XGC1 code simulated two regions of the plasma edge simultaneously, providing a more fundamental understanding of how heat moves from plasma to walls.
Researchers have designed an innovative system using liquid lithium loops to clean and recycle tritium, a key fuel in future fusion power plants. The system aims to protect divertor plates from intense exhaust heat and remove dust and impurities from the plasma.
New simulations led by PPPL provide positive news for ITER. Researchers estimate a heat flux width of up to 6 millimeters within the divertor plates' capacity to tolerate, far greater than previous projections. This finding indicates ITER can produce 10 times more power than it consumes without damaging the divertor plates prematurely.
Physicist Fatima Ebrahimi has used advanced models to simulate the cyclic behavior of edge-localized modes (ELMs), a type of plasma instability. She found that ELMs can form when a steep gradient of current exists at the plasma edge, and these instabilities can extinguish themselves by disrupting their own source.
Engineers at PPPL designed and delivered new pole shields to protect magnets in neutral beam injectors, increasing their lifespan. The redesigned parts will withstand higher heat loads and enable more efficient fusion reactions.
Physicist Mario Podestà develops a new subprogram to simulate particle motion in fusion plasmas, enabling faster and more accurate predictions. The improved code can now approximate the behavior of highly energetic atomic nuclei, crucial for achieving high-performance tokamaks like ITER.
Physicists at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have modeled how recycled neutral atoms enhance turbulence driven by the ion temperature gradient, cooling plasma and reducing rotation rates. The results could lead to improved understanding of plasma performance in future tokamaks and international fusion facilities like ITER.
A new machine learning technique can help identify plasma behavior that precedes disruptions in tokamaks, allowing scientists to steer the plasma towards stability. By analyzing past experiments and predicting disruption precursors, researchers can implement a system to monitor the plasma for signs of instability.
Researchers at PPPL successfully demonstrated a hot plasma edge in a fusion facility by coating tokamak walls with lithium. The findings show that high-edge temperatures and constant temperature profiles can be achieved, which is crucial for improving plasma performance and efficiency.
Researchers found that lithium oxide retains hydrogen isotopes like pure lithium, improving plasma performance in fusion devices. The study suggests that high-purity lithium may not be necessary for optimal results.
Physicists at PPPL have simulated the spontaneous transition of turbulence at the plasma edge to H-mode using a first-principles-based model. The simulation reveals that both turbulence-generated and non-turbulent sheared flows contribute to the bifurcation, providing the physics-basis for successful tokamak operation.
Physicists at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have developed a new computer model of plasma stability in tokamaks, which could help scientists predict and avoid disruptions. The new model simplifies the physics involved and predicts conditions that can contain high-pressure plasmas.
Researchers investigate how wall materials and structures impact secondary electron emission, which can affect plasma confinement and efficiency. They find that lithium oxide linings release more secondary electrons than other materials, highlighting the need to account for reactivity in fusion models.
The W7-X stellarator in Germany has produced high-quality magnetic fields consistent with its complex design, achieving an error rate of less than one part in 100,000. This finding could be a key step toward verifying the feasibility of stellarators as models for future fusion reactors.
Physicists at PPPL have developed a real-time velocity diagnostic that measures plasma velocity in four locations within the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade. This device enables rapid calculations of how the velocity profile of ions evolves over time, which is crucial for optimizing plasma stability and fusion reactions.
The Alcator C-Mod tokamak achieved a record-breaking plasma pressure of 2.05 atmospheres, exceeding previous values by approximately 70 percent. This result validates the high-field approach to fusion energy, which could lead to smaller and cheaper fusion power plants.
Researchers have successfully simulated and observed the formation of plasmoids in a tokamak chamber, enabling plasma startup without solenoids. This breakthrough enables future commercial fusion power plants to operate more efficiently.
Scientists at DIII-D National Fusion Facility have successfully reproduced radiation patterns in simulations, providing a breakthrough in fusion research. By eliminating molecular physics and accurately accounting for divertor plasma parameters, researchers have made significant progress towards designing radiating exhaust solutions.
Researchers found that injecting large quantities of neon gas can rapidly cool and extinguish magnetically confined fusion plasmas hotter than the sun's center. This process converts plasma heat into an intense flash of light, uniformly illuminating the interior wall to avoid damage.
Goldston's paper presented a new model for estimating scrape-off layer width, which depends on plasma drift rate across closed surfaces, and has been largely confirmed by experiments worldwide.
Researchers at UCLA's DIII-D National Fusion Facility discovered that plasma turbulence weakens inside large magnetic islands, allowing small islands to grow instead. This finding could lead to improved control of harmful magnetic islands and more efficient operation of fusion devices like ITER.
Researchers presented initial results from the upgraded NSTX-U facility, doubling magnetic field strength and plasma current. Key findings include surpassing predecessor's maximum magnetic field strength and reducing turbulence through heating power.
A three-year, $3.3 million collaboration will study methods of predicting and avoiding disruptions on KSTAR, a long-pulse tokamak. The research aims to develop techniques for characterizing, forecasting, and avoiding events that can halt fusion reactions and damage tokamaks.
Researchers propose spherical tokamaks as a design for future fusion devices, offering a compact and low-cost solution for harnessing fusion energy. The upgraded NSTX-U and MAST facilities will provide crucial data for developing commercial fusion plants.
A Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) would test materials and generate fusion fuel, paving the way for a pilot plant that demonstrates net energy production. Spherical tokamaks' design produces high-pressure plasmas with relatively low magnetic fields.
Researchers from PPPL found that applying magnetic fields can control Alfvén waves and reduce fast-ion escape, leading to higher temperatures and more efficient fusion processes. This breakthrough could help improve tokamak performance.
The PPPL will optimize lithium delivery systems for long-pulse plasmas on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in China. The goal is to protect plasma-facing components and prevent impurities from halting fusion reactions.
A recent study published in Nuclear Fusion indicates that coaxial helicity injection can improve the efficiency of doughnut-shaped fusion machines. The simulation results show that narrowing the magnetic loop's extension into the tokamak vessel can close up to 70% of field lines, increasing current flow and magnetic fields.
Researchers at PPPL discovered that the bootstrap current is mostly carried by magnetically trapped electrons, contradicting previous understanding. This finding provides a new explanation for the large size of the bootstrap current at the tokamak edge.
Researchers at PPPL designed and tested a 'liquid lithium limiter' that circulated protective liquid metal within the walls of China's EAST tokamak, keeping plasma from cooling down and halting fusion reactions. The system improved tokamak performance by reducing impurities and maintaining optimal plasma conditions.
Researchers at PPPL gained insights into how turbulence affects heat leakage in fusion plasmas, finding a steep density gradient reduces electron turbulence and heat loss. This could lead to more efficient fusion reactors like ITER, reducing heat leakage.
The PPPL-led collaboration achieved a significant breakthrough in fusion energy research by creating a hydrogen-fueled superhot gas called a plasma on the W7-X stellarator. The achievement marks a major step forward for understanding plasma and demonstrates the potential of stellarators as a model for future fusion power plants.