In a groundbreaking achievement, a compact fusion device developed by US-based startup Zap Energy has reached plasma electron temperatures of 1-3 keV, equivalent to 20 to 66 million degrees Fahrenheit (11 to 37 million degrees Celsius). This milestone is a significant step towards harnessing nuclear fusion as a clean and sustainable energy source.
Fusion Energy Breakthrough
Nuclear fusion has the potential to generate large amounts of energy without producing greenhouse gases or long-lived nuclear waste. However, achieving plasma fusion temperatures above 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius) has been a challenge for scientists and engineers.
The FuZe device has surpassed this threshold, reaching temperatures that rival those of the Sun’s core. This achievement is particularly noteworthy because FuZe is a low-cost and compact device that does not require superconducting magnets or powerful lasers to generate its plasma, making it a cost-effective approach to fusion energy.
Plasma Confinement Scheme
The key to FuZe’s success lies in its plasma confinement scheme, called the Fusion Z-pinch Experiment (FuZe), which ensures that electrons do not cool rapidly. Large electric currents are channeled through thin plasma filaments, generating the plasma’s electromagnetic fields that heat and compress it.
