UK's Tokamak Energy reveals high-speed color details of plasma behavior

UK-based fusion company Tokamak Energy has unveiled the first high-speed color footage capturing plasma behavior inside its ST40 spherical tokamak, marking a significant advancement in visualizing fusion processes. Using a camera that records at 16,000 frames per second, researchers observed how deuterium gas fuels the plasma, visible as a bright pink glow, and how lithium granules interact with the plasma. The lithium initially emits a crimson-red light in the cooler outer plasma regions and then glows greenish-yellow as it ionizes in the hotter core, tracing magnetic field lines that confine the plasma. This visual data complements spectroscopy measurements and enhances understanding of plasma fueling and control at temperatures of tens of millions of degrees. These experiments are part of a $52 million upgrade program called LEAPS (Lithium Evaporations to Advance PFCs in ST40), conducted in partnership with the US Department of Energy and the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The program aims to apply lithium coatings to plasma