Articles tagged with "fusion-research"
US: Award-winning Monte Carlo code optimizes nuclear reactor designs
OpenMC is a powerful, open-source Monte Carlo simulation software developed collaboratively by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and MIT. Recently awarded an R&D 100 Award, OpenMC enables researchers to conduct detailed virtual experiments that accelerate innovation in both nuclear fission and fusion reactor designs. By simulating the behavior of neutrons and photons within complex systems, the software helps predict fuel consumption rates and radiation damage, allowing developers to optimize reactor safety and performance without costly physical prototypes. A key strength of OpenMC lies in its ability to leverage high-performance computing resources, including exascale supercomputers like Aurora and Frontier, to perform simulations with unprecedented detail and speed. Its open-source nature fosters widespread adoption and collaboration among universities, private companies, and international researchers. Beyond advancing nuclear energy technologies, OpenMC also supports applications in used nuclear fuel management and radiation protection for medical and space environments. The software’s flexible interface and compatibility with diverse hardware—from personal laptops to supercomputers—make it a
energynuclear-energyMonte-Carlo-simulationOpenMChigh-performance-computingfusion-researchreactor-designUK scientists' new facility to boost fusion effort for clean energy goal
UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) researchers have launched a new facility named ELSA at their Fusion Technology Facility in South Yorkshire to advance fusion energy research. ELSA simulates extreme cryogenic temperatures similar to those inside fusion reactors to test the durability and electrical resistance of remountable joints (RMJs), which are essential components in the toroidal field coils of tokamaks. These RMJs allow rapid maintenance access during plant operations and are critical to the success of the UK’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme, a prototype fusion power plant planned for West Burton with a target operational date of 2040. The facility focuses on testing high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technologies, aiming to achieve ultra-low electrical resistance to reduce energy consumption and operational costs, thereby supporting the commercial viability of fusion energy. UKAEA engineers emphasize that ELSA’s location near STEP’s site and advanced manufacturing hubs will accelerate development of these critical technologies. The STEP project is expected
energyfusion-energysuperconducting-magnetscryogenic-technologyfusion-researchremountable-jointsUK-Atomic-Energy-AuthorityScientists crush gold at 10 million times Earth pressure to reveal new structure
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have conducted groundbreaking experiments compressing gold to pressures around 10 million times that of Earth's atmosphere, the highest-pressure structural measurements ever recorded for this metal. Using precisely timed laser pulses at the National Ignition Facility and the OMEGA EP Laser System, the team rapidly compressed gold samples while maintaining relatively low temperatures to keep the metal solid. They then employed ultrafast X-ray diffraction to capture atomic-scale snapshots of gold’s crystal structure under these extreme conditions, providing unprecedented insight into how gold behaves at pressures comparable to those deep inside giant planets. The study revealed that gold’s usual face-centered cubic (FCC) atomic arrangement remains stable up to about twice the pressure found at Earth’s core, which is higher than some previous theoretical predictions. Beyond this threshold, the researchers observed the emergence of a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure coexisting with the FCC phase, marking the first direct evidence of gold’s structural transition under such intense compression. This coexist
materialshigh-pressure-sciencegold-structureatomic-rearrangementlaser-compressionfusion-researchNational-Ignition-FacilityChina’s superconducting magnet hits 351,000 gauss, breaks world record
Chinese scientists at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) have set a new world record by generating a steady magnetic field of 351,000 gauss—over 700,000 times stronger than Earth’s geomagnetic field—using a fully superconducting magnet. This surpasses the previous record of 323,500 gauss and marks a significant advancement in superconducting magnet technology. The magnet was developed through collaboration with the Hefei International Applied Superconductivity Center, the Institute of Energy of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, and Tsinghua University. The breakthrough was achieved by employing high-temperature superconducting insert-coil technology nested coaxially with low-temperature superconducting magnets, ensuring mechanical stability and electromagnetic performance under extreme conditions. This achievement has important implications for accelerating the commercialization of advanced superconducting instruments such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers used in medical imaging and chemical analysis. Moreover, the magnet supports critical technologies requiring strong and stable magnetic fields, including fusion magnet
energysuperconducting-magnetfusion-researchmagnetic-levitationpower-transmissionhigh-temperature-superconductorsadvanced-materialsNew pellet injector from US lab powers fusion record breakthrough
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a novel high-speed pellet injector that significantly advanced fusion energy research by enabling a record-breaking plasma performance at the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator in Germany. This Continuous Pellet Fueling System injects a steady stream of solid hydrogen pellets, cooled near absolute zero and accelerated by helium gas, directly into the plasma core. This deep fueling method effectively raises the plasma’s core density more efficiently than traditional gas injection from the vessel’s edge, which is crucial for sustaining the plasma’s energy confinement and achieving the fusion “triple product” — the simultaneous attainment of high ion temperature, density, and energy confinement time. The W7-X stellarator, known for its complex three-dimensional magnetic confinement, had previously struggled to maintain high plasma density for extended periods, limiting sustained high-performance operation. The ORNL pellet injector overcame this limitation by maintaining a higher plasma density, which uniquely enhances energy confinement in stellarators. This breakthrough allowed
fusion-energypellet-injectorplasma-confinementstellaratorOak-Ridge-National-Laboratoryfusion-researchenergy-breakthroughNuclear fusion gets electrochemical shock to boost reaction rates
Scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have developed a novel method to enhance nuclear fusion reaction rates at room temperature using a compact, bench-top reactor called the Thunderbird Reactor. This device combines a particle accelerator with an electrochemical cell to load deuterium fuel into a palladium metal target from two sides: a plasma field on one side and electrochemical loading on the other. The electrochemical process, which applies just one volt of electricity, effectively "squeezes" more deuterium into the metal, achieving what normally requires extremely high pressures. This dual-loading approach resulted in a 15% increase in deuterium–deuterium fusion events, marking the first demonstration of fusion using this combination of techniques, although the experiment did not achieve net energy gain. This research represents a significant shift from traditional fusion experiments that rely on large, high-temperature reactors, potentially democratizing fusion science by enabling smaller-scale, more accessible laboratory setups. The work builds on a 2015
energynuclear-fusionelectrochemistryparticle-acceleratordeuteriumpalladiumfusion-researchQuaise "Proof Of Concept" Demo Goes Live In Texas - CleanTechnica
Quaise, an MIT spinoff, is pioneering a novel geothermal drilling technology that uses high-powered microwaves generated by gyrotrons to bore through hard rock such as basalt and granite. This approach aims to reach superhot zones located up to 12,000 feet (about 2 to 4 kilometers) beneath the Earth's surface, where temperatures exceed 374º C (700º F). At these depths, water can be converted into supercritical steam, which is highly efficient for generating electricity. Quaise envisions tapping into this vast geothermal heat as a nearly limitless, clean energy source capable of meeting global electricity demands for millions of years. The concept originated from Paul Woskov’s fusion research at MIT, where he realized that gyrotrons—powerful microwave sources used to heat plasma—could be repurposed to vaporize rock and create deep boreholes. In 2018, Carlos Araque and Matt Houde joined Woskov to found Quaise, combining expertise from MIT and the oil and gas industry. Recently, Quaise completed its first proof-of-concept demonstration near Houston, Texas, where their microwave drilling technology successfully penetrated 10 feet into granite within an existing oil well. Although this is an early milestone far from the ultimate goal of drilling miles deep, the company emphasizes its mission to become a geothermal developer providing abundant, reliable, and affordable clean energy worldwide, rather than merely selling drilling equipment.
energygeothermal-energyclean-energydrilling-technologymicrowavesfusion-researchsustainable-power