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Posted 02 Apr 2024

2 min read

  • Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) fusion reactor reached temperatures seven times that of the Sun's core in latest advancement for nuclear fusion.
  • KSTAR also maintained high confinement mode (H-mode) for over 100 seconds
    • H-mode is a stable plasma state.
    • Plasma is hot, charged gas made of positive ions and free-moving electrons with unique properties distinct from solids, liquids, or gases.

 

  • About Tokamak
    • Scientists generally use donut-shaped reactor called tokamak where hydrogen variants are heated to extraordinarily high temperatures to create a plasma.
    • This is called artificial Sun because it replicates reaction of nuclear fusion taking place in Sun.
    • Nuclear fusion is process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form single heavier nuclei while releasing massive amounts of energy.

 

  • Significance of Nuclear Fusion
    • Abundant energy: Releases nearly four million times more energy than burning of coal, oil, or gas.
    • Limited risk of proliferation: No enriched materials used that could be exploited to make nuclear weapons.
    • No risk of meltdown: Fusion reactors are considered to be inherently safe.
    • Fuel is inexpensive and abundant in nature.

 

Key Challenges associated with Nuclear Fusion

  • Development of materials that can withstand fusion conditions for decades.
  • Physics of Plasma is not well understood by researchers.
  • Maintaining extremely high temperature of around 50-million-degree celsius.
  • Tags :
  • Nuclear Fusion
  • Artificial Sun
  • Tokamak
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