One Step Closer in Generating Power Out of Nuclear Fusion

Gineersnow.com 29.08.2016 Via Princeton Plasma Physics Lab There are different ways to generate power out of renewable sources, but rarely does fusion power – the result of fusing the nuclei of two or more lighter atoms into one heavier nucleus – come into mind. Although it holds a promise in providing a low-cost, sustainable energy … Read more

Spherical tokamak could take major steps towards fusion power

CCFE 24/08/2016 A concept for a device to tackle some of the main hurdles standing in the way of commercial fusion power has been drawn up by Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory with input from CCFE. The Fusion Nuclear Science Facility would for the first time integrate systems for electricity production, materials and component testing, and … Read more

Spherical tokamak as model for next steps in fusion energy

Eureka Alert John Greenwald | 24-AUG-2016 Center stack of the National Spherical Torus-Experiment-Upgrade. CREDIT Elle Starkman/PPPL Office of Communications. Among the top puzzles in the development of fusion energy is the best shape for the magnetic facility — or “bottle” — that will provide the next steps in the development of fusion reactors. Leading candidates … Read more

S. Korea succeeds in mass production of nuclear fusion fuel

Dam25.com Aug. 24, 2016 DAEJEON, Aug 24 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s state-run laboratory said Wednesday that it has successfully developed a technology for the mass production of tritium for nuclear fusion energy. The technology allows the annual production of more than 50 kilograms of tritium, which is one of two core fuels used for nuclear … Read more

PPPL and Princeton help lead a new center to understand and mitigate runaway electrons that pose a challenge for ITER

PPPL By John Greenwald | August 22, 2016 Physicist Dylan Brennan (Photo by Elle Starkman/Office of Communications) Runaway electrons, a searing, laser-like beam of electric current released by plasma disruptions, could damage the interior walls of future tokamaks the size of ITER, the international fusion experiment under construction in France. To help overcome this challenge, … Read more

UK Atomic Energy Authority gets a new chief executive

Physics World Michael Banks | Aug 19, 2016 Fusion’s future: Ian Chapman will take the helm at the UKAEA The UK fusion scientist Ian Chapman has been named as the next chief executive of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). On 1 October Chapman will succeed Steve Cowley, who has been head of the authority … Read more

How to keep the superhot plasma inside tokamaks from chirping

PPPL By Raphael Rosen | August 19, 2016 (Photo by Elle Starkman) PPPL scientist Vinícius Duarte “Chirp, chirp, chirp.” The familiar sound of birds is also what researchers call a wave in plasma that breaks from a single note into rapidly changing notes. This behavior can cause heat in the form of high energy particles … Read more