Chinese scientists have reported that the nuclear fusion tokamak developed by them, also known as the “artificial sun,” has exceeded the threshold of 100 million degrees in ion and electron heat values. According to China’s state television CCTV, the experimental reactor named “HL-3” in the central city of Chengdu in Sichuan province has approached heat values that can initiate a nuclear fusion reaction similar to the Sun. Researchers noted that the reactor reached 117 million degrees in ion heat value and 160 million degrees in electron heat value. Chief Designer of the reactor, Cong Vulu, stated, “In our experiment, we made a significant breakthrough in overall fusion performance by reaching the double 100 million-degree target. This means that China’s fusion research has entered the burning plasma phase.” Cong emphasized that for the first time with HL-3, a reactor was developed in which heating, control, and diagnostic systems were entirely developed in China.

NUCLEAR FUSION TOKAMAK
Nuclear fusion tokamaks, called “Tokamaks,” control high-temperature plasma in a ring-shaped magnetic field. The nuclear reaction that converts hydrogen atoms to helium releases a large amount of energy. To achieve record heat values, Cong and his team used large microwave generators to heat electrons and high-energy particle beams to increase the temperature of the atomic nucleus. Researchers overcame instabilities that limit heating degrees by developing a new method to trap energy in the plasma core, and also set new global standards for fusion experiments with high precision control and diagnostic tools. China also has another plasma reactor named “Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak” (EAST). Located in Hefei, the capital of Anhui province, EAST is used for longer plasma experiments. HL-3, larger than EAST, is aimed to be used not only for experiments and research but also for developing a real nuclear fusion reactor.