Articles tagged with "plasma-physics"
Avalanche thinks the fusion power industry should think smaller
Avalanche, a fusion startup led by co-founder and CEO Robin Langtry, advocates for a smaller-scale approach to nuclear fusion, contrasting with the large reactors or extensive laser arrays commonly envisioned in the industry. Their method uses extremely high-voltage electric currents to confine plasma particles in orbit around an electrode, supplemented by modest magnetic fields, rather than relying on the powerful magnets of tokamaks or laser compression techniques. This compact design, with current reactors only nine centimeters in diameter, enables rapid experimentation and iteration—sometimes twice weekly—accelerating development compared to the slower, costlier testing cycles of larger devices. Inspired by Langtry’s experience at Blue Origin and the “new space” approach popularized by SpaceX, Avalanche aims to scale up their reactor to 25 centimeters, targeting about 1 megawatt of power output and improved plasma confinement time, which is critical for achieving a fusion gain (Q) greater than one, meaning more energy produced than consumed. Avalanche recently raised $29 million
energyfusion-powernuclear-fusionclean-energyplasma-physicsfusion-reactorsenergy-innovationUS system to cut nuclear fusion simulation time from months to real-time
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has introduced STELLAR-AI, a new computing platform designed to drastically reduce the time required for nuclear fusion simulations from months to real-time. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with high-performance computing, STELLAR-AI connects computing resources directly to experimental devices, enabling real-time data analysis during fusion experiments. The platform’s hardware architecture combines CPUs for standard tasks, GPUs for AI model training, and quantum processing units (QPUs) to handle complex calculations beyond the capabilities of traditional computers. A key experimental partner is the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U), which will benefit from a digital twin model to simulate experiments virtually before physical testing. STELLAR-AI supports the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of fusion power plants through AI-driven design and optimization. Projects under this initiative include StellFoundry, which uses AI to speed up the design of stellarators
energynuclear-fusionAI-in-energyhigh-performance-computingfusion-simulationfusion-energy-researchplasma-physicsPortugal’s hypersonic test 'generates flow hotter than Sun’s surface'
Portugal has achieved a significant milestone in hypersonic research by successfully conducting a test at the European Shock Tube for High Enthalpy Research (ESTHER) facility, reaching speeds of approximately Mach 25 (about 8 km/s). This test, carried out by the Institute of Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion (IPFN) at Instituto Superior Técnico, simulated extreme atmospheric re-entry conditions, generating gas temperatures and pressures exceeding those on the Sun’s surface. The intense shock wave produced a bright flash, visually confirming the extreme physical environment created inside the facility. This breakthrough places Portugal among a select group of countries with experimental capabilities in hypersonic flow research, relevant for spacecraft thermal protection and planetary atmosphere exploration. ESTHER, inaugurated in 2019 and developed over 15 years through an international consortium led by IPFN and supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), is designed to replicate the high-temperature, high-pressure plasma conditions encountered during atmospheric re-entry and hypersonic flight. The facility operates remotely
energyaerospacehypersonic-technologyplasma-physicsthermal-protection-systemsexperimental-researchspace-explorationIsraeli fusion startup nT-Tao fires first plasma toward 20 MW goal
Israeli energy startup nT-Tao has achieved a key milestone by successfully firing its first plasma pulses with the C3 prototype, advancing its fusion reactor development just two months after assembly began. Building on the previous C2-A campaign—which reached plasma temperatures around 100 eV—the C3 system serves as a testbed for a compact, modular fusion reactor design using proprietary magnetic-confinement and pulsed-power technology aimed at high-density plasma regimes. The current iteration incorporates refinements in magnets, pulsed power systems, diagnostics, and integration to improve plasma performance, with goals to achieve higher temperatures and longer confinement times. Data from C3 will validate simulations and guide future prototype development within an iterative 12-month engineering cycle. In parallel, nT-Tao and Ben-Gurion University researchers published a study on a nonlinear control system for pulsed-power resonant inverters, addressing the challenge of rapidly changing electrical loads during plasma formation. Their control architecture combines feedback linearization with a linear regulator to maintain
energyfusion-energyplasma-physicspulsed-power-systemsmagnetic-confinementmodular-fusion-reactorenergy-researchUS lab sees first dual-view shockwave to unlock stable nuclear fusion
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have, for the first time, captured a high-definition “movie” of shockwaves traveling through a microscopic water jet, revealing a previously unknown mechanism critical to achieving stable nuclear fusion. Using a novel “multi-messenger” imaging technique that combined ultrafast X-rays and high-energy electron beams, the team observed material compression in picosecond increments with micrometer precision. This dual-view approach uncovered a thin layer of water vapor around the target that acts as a cushion, enabling symmetrical shockwave compression—a key factor in preventing instabilities that can disrupt fusion plasma ignition. The experiment utilized a flowing water jet target, which self-renews after each laser pulse, allowing rapid data collection at one shot per second. This setup overcame challenges like preventing water freezing in a vacuum and provided insights directly relevant to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) fuel capsules. By integrating the dual radiation pulse data, researchers created unprecedented frame-by-frame visualizations of plasma dynamics previously invisible to standard diagnostics or simulations.
energynuclear-fusioninertial-confinement-fusionplasma-physicslaser-technologyshockwave-imagingfusion-energy-researchUK's fusion machine starts scientific campaign to double heating power
The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has launched the fifth scientific campaign of its flagship fusion machine, the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade, marking a significant step toward developing the UK’s first fusion power plant. Over the next six months, more than 200 researchers from over 40 global institutions will conduct upwards of 950 plasma pulses to deepen understanding of fusion processes within the tokamak reactor. The campaign focuses on four key areas: high-pressure fusion plasma, energy control and stability, divertor design improvements, and plasma behavior prediction tools. MAST Upgrade is set to receive substantial enhancements, including the installation of an Electron Bernstein Wave heating system and two additional neutral beam injectors, which together will double its heating power. These upgrades aim to replicate technologies planned for the STEP Fusion program, the UK’s prototype fusion power plant project. The campaign builds on previous successes, such as the world-first plasma control using 3D magnetic coils during the fourth campaign, underscoring
energynuclear-fusionfusion-power-plantplasma-physicstokamak-reactorenergy-researchUK-Atomic-Energy-AuthorityChina's EAST Tokamak achieves stable operation at densities beyond limits
Chinese researchers operating the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) have experimentally demonstrated stable plasma operation at densities significantly beyond the conventional empirical limits, effectively accessing a theorized “density-free regime” for fusion plasmas. By implementing a novel high-density operating scheme that combines control of initial fuel gas pressure with electron cyclotron resonance heating during startup, the team optimized plasma–wall interactions, reduced impurity buildup and energy losses, and pushed plasma density to unprecedented levels without triggering disruptive instabilities. This marks the first experimental verification of the PWSO theoretical density-free regime, where plasma stability is maintained despite exceeding traditional density constraints. These findings suggest a practical and scalable method to extend density limits in tokamaks and future burning plasma fusion devices, offering new physical insights into overcoming a long-standing barrier in fusion research. Since fusion power output scales with the square of fuel density, breaking through the density limit is crucial for achieving fusion ignition and advancing nuclear fusion as a clean, sustainable energy source. The EAST
energynuclear-fusiontokamakplasma-physicssuperconducting-materialsfusion-energy-researchsustainable-energy3D magnetic field ‘breakthrough’ for fusion plasma control wins US award
Three researchers from the US Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)—Seong-Moo Yang, SangKyeun Kim, and Ricardo Shousha—have been awarded the 2025 Kaul Foundation Prize for their pioneering work in optimizing three-dimensional (3D) magnetic fields within tokamaks to control edge instabilities in fusion plasma. Their approach uses real-time artificial intelligence (AI) adjustments to proactively prevent plasma instabilities, such as tearing mode disruptions, which can damage the tokamak and halt the fusion process. This marks a significant advancement over traditional methods that react only after instabilities occur. The team’s research highlights the advantages of 3D magnetic fields over conventional two-dimensional fields for maintaining plasma stability. Due to the complexity of calculating and optimizing these fields, they employed machine learning to forecast potential instabilities and make micro-adjustments in real time. This AI-driven method was validated through international collaboration, incorporating experimental data from South Korea’s KSTAR and the DIII
energyfusion-energyplasma-physicstokamakmagnetic-fieldsAI-controlmachine-learningWorld's largest stellarator turns ten: How W7-X achieves steady plasma
The Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), the world’s largest and most advanced stellarator, recently marked its tenth anniversary, demonstrating significant progress from an engineering prototype to a functional laboratory for fusion research. Unlike tokamaks, stellarators use complex, externally wound coils to create a three-dimensional magnetic field that confines plasma without relying on large internal plasma currents, potentially avoiding instabilities that limit continuous operation. Since its first plasma in 2015, W7-X has undergone extensive international collaboration and precision engineering, proving the feasibility of its coil and control systems. However, the critical question remained whether it could sustain high-performance plasmas for durations relevant to power plant operation. In 2025, W7-X achieved a breakthrough during the OP2.3 campaign by sustaining high-performance plasmas for 43 seconds and setting a world record for the triple product (density × temperature × confinement time) in long plasma discharges. This performance matched the best tokamak results for similar pulse lengths,
energyfusion-energystellaratorplasma-physicssuperconducting-coilsmagnetic-confinementWendelstein-7-XStudy spots fluffy ice grains that float and swirl inside cold plasma
Researchers at Caltech have recreated the extreme conditions found in deep space—combining icy dust, electrified gas, and freezing temperatures—to study the behavior of ice grains within cold plasma. Inside their cryogenic plasma chamber, they observed tiny ice grains spontaneously forming delicate, snowflake-like fractal structures. These grains became negatively charged as electrons accumulated on their fluffy surfaces, resulting in a high charge-to-mass ratio that caused electrical forces to dominate over gravity. Consequently, the grains did not settle but instead floated, spun, and swirled in complex vortices within the plasma, exhibiting unpredictable motion even as they grew much larger and fluffier. The negatively charged grains repelled each other and drifted through the neutral gas like feathers in the wind, influenced by inward-pointing electric fields that trapped them inside the plasma. This behavior has significant implications for understanding dusty plasma environments in astrophysics, such as Saturn’s rings, star-forming molecular clouds, and protoplanetary disks, where charged
materialsplasma-physicscharged-dustcryogenic-plasmafractal-structuresastrophysicselectric-fieldsWorld’s largest fusion device solves key plasma heat loss challenge
Researchers at Japan’s National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) have solved a longstanding puzzle in fusion reactor physics regarding the rapid heat loss from the plasma core to the edge, which occurs much faster than conventional diffusion theory predicts. Using the Large Helical Device (LHD), the team discovered that plasma turbulence operates in two modes: a slow, local “running game” and a fast, long-range “passing game.” The latter, described as a mediator turbulence, enables heat to leap across distant regions of the reactor almost instantly—within a ten-thousandth of a second—bypassing the space in between and undermining magnetic confinement. To capture this rapid phenomenon, the researchers applied short, intense heating pulses and employed high-precision diagnostics capable of microsecond resolution. Their data confirmed that shorter heating pulses amplify the mediator turbulence, accelerating heat loss. This insight transforms the understanding of plasma turbulence from a chaotic process to a complex system with dual roles in heat transport. Crucially, identifying this mediator
energyfusion-energyplasma-physicsturbulence-controlmagnetic-confinementLarge-Helical-Deviceenergy-researchJapan's FAST nuclear fusion project releases compact tokamak design
Japan’s FAST (Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) nuclear fusion project, led by Starlight Engine and Kyoto Fusioneering, has completed its conceptual design phase just one year after launching in November 2024. The project centers on a compact, low-aspect-ratio tokamak designed to generate and sustain burning plasma using a deuterium-tritium fuel mix, targeting a fusion output of about 50 MW. Unlike experimental reactors focused solely on plasma physics, FAST integrates power generation systems, fuel breeding cycles, and heat extraction into a single operational unit, aiming to demonstrate commercial viability by the 2030s. Key innovations in the FAST design include the use of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets, liquid breeding blanket systems, and efficient tritium fuel cycle technologies. The compact size enabled by HTS coils reduces manufacturing time and costs while enabling high-pressure plasma generation. The project also plans to test advanced components such as innovative divertors and new materials in future
energynuclear-fusiontokamaksuperconducting-magnetsplasma-physicstritium-fuel-cycleenergy-conversionUS startup's fusion energy device hits record 1.6 GPa plasma pressure
US startup Zap Energy has achieved a significant breakthrough in fusion energy research with its Fusion Z-pinch Experiment 3 (FuZE-3) device, reaching plasma pressures of approximately 1.6 gigapascals (GPa), or 830 megapascals (MPa) electron pressure. These pressures are comparable to those found deep beneath Earth's crust and represent the highest recorded in a sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch. The results, presented at the American Physical Society’s Division of Plasma Physics meeting, mark a key milestone toward achieving scientific energy gain (Q > 1), where a fusion system produces more energy than it consumes. FuZE-3 is Zap Energy’s most advanced fusion platform, notable for incorporating a third electrode that separates plasma acceleration and compression forces, enabling better control over plasma density. The device achieved electron densities between 3 and 5 x 10^24 m^-3 and electron temperatures exceeding 1 keV (over 21 million degrees Fahrenheit), sustaining extreme
energyfusion-energyplasma-physicsfusion-reactorZap-EnergyZ-pinchsheared-flow-stabilized-fusionZap Energy ramps up the pressure in its latest fusion device
Zap Energy unveiled its latest fusion device, Fuze-3, at a research meeting in Long Beach, California, marking a significant step in its effort to commercialize fusion power. The device achieved a plasma pressure exceeding 232,000 psi (1.6 gigapascals) and temperatures over 21 million degrees Fahrenheit (11.7 million degrees Celsius), setting a record for its sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion approach. This method uses electrodes to pass electricity through plasma, generating a magnetic field that heats and compresses the plasma to induce fusion. While these pressure and temperature figures are promising, they are not directly comparable to other fusion startups due to differing technologies. Achieving high plasma pressure is critical for fusion reactors to reach the "triple product" threshold—combining temperature, pressure, and confinement time—to generate net power. Zap Energy estimates it still needs to increase plasma pressure by at least tenfold to reach scientific breakeven, a milestone few have achieved.
energyfusion-powerplasma-physicsfusion-reactorclean-energyenergy-innovationZap-EnergyWhat Causes the Northern Lights?
The article explains that the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere. Recently, these light displays have been visible much farther south than usual due to heightened solar activity linked to the sun's 11-year solar cycle, which recently peaked. This peak increases solar storms and the solar wind—streams of charged particles emitted by the sun—that collide with Earth's magnetic field, producing the colorful auroras. Such heightened activity is expected to continue until around 2026. The sun generates energy through nuclear fusion, where hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy as described by Einstein’s equation E=mc². This energy heats the sun’s outer layers, creating plasma from which charged particles escape as the solar wind. The solar wind’s interaction with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere causes phenomena like the auroras and also affects comets, pushing their ionized gas tails away from the sun. The sun’s magnetic field is unstable
energysolar-energysolar-windaurora-borealisspace-weathernuclear-fusionplasma-physicsMIT team creates model to prevent plasma disruptions in tokamaks
Scientists at MIT have developed a novel method to predict and manage plasma behavior during the rampdown process in tokamak nuclear reactors. Rampdown involves safely reducing the plasma current, which circulates at extremely high speeds and temperatures, to prevent instability that can damage the reactor’s interior. However, the rampdown itself can sometimes destabilize the plasma, causing costly damage. To address this, the MIT team combined physics-based plasma dynamic models with machine learning techniques, training their model on experimental data from the Swiss TCV tokamak. This hybrid approach allowed the model to accurately and quickly predict plasma evolution and potential instabilities during rampdown using relatively small datasets. The new model not only enhances prediction accuracy but also translates these predictions into actionable control instructions, or “trajectories,” that a tokamak’s control system can implement to maintain plasma stability. This capability was successfully tested on multiple TCV experimental runs, demonstrating safer plasma rampdowns and potentially improving the reliability and safety of future nuclear fusion reactors. The research,
energynuclear-fusionplasma-physicsmachine-learningtokamakclean-energyplasma-stabilityFirst proof links plasma ripples to fusion and universe origins
Researchers at Seoul National University have experimentally confirmed for the first time the phenomenon of multiscale coupling in plasma, demonstrating how microscopic magnetic ripples can trigger large-scale structural changes. Led by Professor Hwang Yong-Seok, the team integrated fusion experiments with cosmic plasma theory to show that tiny magnetic turbulence initiates magnetic reconnection—a process where magnetic energy rapidly converts into heat and motion—resulting in a cascade of effects that reorganize plasma on a macroscopic scale. This breakthrough provides the first direct experimental evidence supporting theoretical models that small-scale disturbances can influence larger plasma dynamics. The study involved injecting a strong electron beam into plasma confined within a fusion device, inducing localized turbulence and increased plasma resistivity, which then triggered magnetic reconnection. High-resolution particle simulations performed on the KAIROS supercomputer closely matched the experimental results, reinforcing the discovery. This finding is significant for both fusion energy development and astrophysics, as it sheds light on fundamental plasma processes that power stars and cosmic events like solar flares and
fusion-energyplasma-physicsmagnetic-reconnectionmultiscale-couplingnuclear-fusionastrophysicsplasma-turbulenceChina's artificial sun design can boost nuclear fusion power: Study
China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), also known as the “artificial sun,” has demonstrated significant advancements in nuclear fusion research, potentially accelerating the development of clean, limitless energy. Operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2006, EAST recently set a world record by sustaining steady-state, long-pulse H-mode plasma at temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,066 seconds. This achievement marks a critical milestone in magnetic confinement fusion, showcasing the viability of fully superconducting, non-circular tokamak designs for stable, high-performance fusion operation. The research, led by Jianwen Yan and collaborators from multiple Chinese scientific institutions, highlights that EAST’s design overcomes key challenges in maintaining long-duration, high-parameter plasma conditions essential for practical fusion energy generation. Tokamaks use powerful magnetic fields to contain superheated plasma, and EAST’s success in sustaining these extreme conditions demonstrates that advanced superconducting tokamaks can move fusion technology closer to commercial viability.
energynuclear-fusionsuperconducting-tokamakclean-energyfusion-reactorplasma-physicssustainable-energyNvidia, Google, and Bill Gates help Commonwealth Fusion Systems raise $863M
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a Massachusetts-based fusion power startup, has raised $863 million in a recent funding round from a diverse group of investors including Nvidia, Google, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Bill Gates, among others. This latest investment brings CFS’s total funding to nearly $3 billion since its founding. The company aims to accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy, moving beyond the concept stage to industrial-scale deployment. Fusion power, which generates energy by fusing atoms under extreme heat and pressure to create plasma, has long been seen as a potential source of nearly limitless clean energy, but only recently has attracted significant investor interest due to advances in research and technology. CFS is currently developing a prototype fusion reactor called Sparc, a tokamak device designed to achieve scientific breakeven—where the fusion reaction produces more energy than it consumes—by 2027. Although Sparc will not supply power to the grid, it is a critical step toward validating the technology and understanding the
energyfusion-powerCommonwealth-Fusion-Systemsfusion-reactorplasma-physicsclean-energysustainable-energyFusion breakthrough uses inverted D plasma to solve key energy challenge
Researchers at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility in the US have demonstrated a significant breakthrough in nuclear fusion reactor control by using a plasma configuration called “negative triangularity,” where the plasma cross-section is shaped like an inverted “D” with the curved side facing the tokamak’s inner wall. Contrary to previous expectations that this shape would be less stable, experiments in 2023 showed that negative triangularity plasmas can achieve high pressure, density, and current simultaneously while maintaining excellent heat confinement. This configuration also exhibited unexpectedly low levels of plasma instability, which is critical for sustained fusion reactions and reducing damage to reactor walls. A key challenge in tokamak design is managing the heat at the plasma edge to protect the reactor’s interior while keeping the core hot enough for fusion. The negative triangularity approach successfully combined high plasma confinement with “divertor detachment,” a condition that cools the plasma boundary and reduces heat load on material surfaces without triggering instabilities. This integrated solution addresses the core-edge heat management
energynuclear-fusionplasma-physicstokamakfusion-reactorenergy-breakthroughfusion-energy-researchMagnetic secrets of plasma revealed for stable nuclear fusion reactor
Researchers from South Korea have experimentally demonstrated the phenomenon of multi-scale coupling in plasma, revealing how microscopic turbulence at the particle level can induce large-scale structural changes in plasma systems. Using the Versatile Experiment Spherical Torus (VEST) device at Seoul National University, the team generated two electron beam-driven flux ropes within a 3D helical magnetic field. These flux ropes exhibited turbulence that triggered magnetic reconnection—a process where magnetic field lines break and reconnect—resulting in the merging of the two flux ropes into a larger structure. This experiment provided the first direct observation of three-dimensional (3D) reconnection driven by turbulence beyond the traditional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) framework. The findings have significant implications for nuclear fusion technology and astrophysics. For fusion research, understanding how particle-level turbulence influences plasma stability could lead to improved control strategies necessary for sustaining stable fusion reactions. In astrophysics, the energy spectra observed during the experiment’s magnetic reconnection closely resemble those seen in cosmic plasma
energynuclear-fusionplasma-physicsmagnetic-reconnectionturbulencemagnetohydrodynamicsexperimental-physicsAI decodes dusty plasma mystery and describes new forces in nature
Scientists at Emory University developed a custom AI neural network that successfully discovered new physical laws governing dusty plasma, a complex state of matter consisting of electrically charged gas with tiny dust particles. Unlike typical AI applications that predict outcomes or clean data, this AI was trained on detailed experimental data capturing three-dimensional particle trajectories within a plasma chamber. By integrating physical principles such as gravity and drag into the model, the AI could analyze small but rich datasets and reveal precise descriptions of non-reciprocal forces—interactions where one particle’s force on another is not equally reciprocated—with over 99% accuracy. This breakthrough corrected long-standing misconceptions in plasma physics, including the nature of electric charge interactions between particles. The study demonstrated that when one particle leads, it attracts the trailing particle, while the trailing particle pushes the leader away, an asymmetric behavior previously suspected but never accurately modeled. The AI’s transparent framework not only clarifies these complex forces but also offers a universal approach applicable to other many-body systems, from living
AIdusty-plasmaphysics-discoveryneural-networksmaterials-scienceparticle-interactionsplasma-physicsJapan achieves 500,000+ tesla magnetic field force with new laser
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a novel technique called bladed microtube implosion (BMI) that generates extremely strong magnetic fields—exceeding 500 kilotesla—using ultra-intense laser pulses directed at small hollow metal cylinders with blade-like internal structures. As the laser heats and compresses the cylinder, the plasma inside spins and creates a powerful electric current, which in turn produces a magnetic field without requiring any external magnetic field to initiate the process. This self-amplifying mechanism mimics star-level magnetic forces and could enable the study of extreme magnetic environments in compact laboratory settings. The breakthrough, led by Professor Masakatsu Murakami, was demonstrated through advanced computer simulations using Osaka University’s SQUID supercomputer and a specialized particle behavior model. Although not yet experimentally verified, the researchers anticipate near-term testing with existing laser systems. Potential applications span space science—simulating magnetized stars and cosmic jets—fusion energy research, particularly improving proton-beam fast ignition techniques, and national defense
energyfusion-energymagnetic-fieldslaser-technologyplasma-physicsOsaka-Universityhigh-energy-physicsUS researchers solve tokamak plasma mystery with elusive ‘voids’ discovery
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed a new theoretical model that may explain a longstanding discrepancy in nuclear fusion research related to plasma behavior at the edge of tokamak reactors. The study, led by physicists Mingyun Cao and Patrick Diamond, focuses on the plasma boundary—a critical region for sustaining fusion reactions and protecting reactor components from extreme heat. Previous simulations underestimated the width of the turbulent layer at the plasma edge, a problem known as the “shortfall problem,” which has hindered accurate predictive modeling of plasma dynamics. The breakthrough centers on previously overlooked structures called “voids,” which are inward-moving, density-depleted formations at the plasma edge. While past research emphasized outward-moving, density-enhanced “blobs,” the role of voids remained unclear. Cao and Diamond’s model treats voids as coherent, particle-like entities that, as they move from the cooler plasma edge toward the hotter core, generate plasma drift waves by interacting with steep temperature and density gradients. These waves transfer
energynuclear-fusiontokamakplasma-physicsfusion-reactorturbulence-modelingplasma-boundaryMassive US device to unlock fusion secrets by recreating solar storm
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has launched a groundbreaking facility called the Facility for Laboratory Reconnection Experiments (FLARE) to study magnetic reconnection, a powerful process where magnetic field lines snap and reconnect, releasing vast energy. This phenomenon, which drives solar flares and disrupts technologies like GPS and power grids on Earth, also affects fusion reactors by interfering with plasma stability. FLARE, an SUV-sized device capable of discharging over 6 million joules—enough energy to power a thousand homes for five seconds—enables scientists to recreate and analyze these cosmic-scale events in a controlled laboratory setting, something previously impossible with spacecraft or computer simulations. FLARE’s unique design allows it to simulate multiple reconnection sites simultaneously, addressing a major gap in current research that has only observed single “X-points” where magnetic lines reconnect. This capability could provide the first experimental evidence of multi-point reconnection, offering new insights into how reconnection heats plasma and impacts large astrophysical systems
energyfusion-energymagnetic-reconnectionplasma-physicssolar-stormspower-gridslaboratory-experimentsUS nuclear fusion gets a 3D printing boost to fast-track construction
energynuclear-fusion3D-printingconstructionplasma-physicsmagnet-systemsNSTX-U