Why do we need this?

Nuclear fusion is the process of combining light atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen, with heavier atomic nuclei, such as helium, to release enormous amounts of energy. This is the same reaction that powers the Sun and other stars, and scientists have been trying to replicate it on Earth for decades, hoping to create a clean, safe and virtually unlimited source of energy.

Since the need for electricity is increasing dramatically following the active development of artificial intelligence technologies, humanity desperately needs to make a breakthrough in this area. This area requires huge amounts of electricity for the training and operation of neural networks.

Obstacles on the path to nuclear fusion

One of the main challenges in achieving fusion is trapping and controlling the extremely hot plasma (the state of matter consisting of ionized gas that is required for the reaction).

• Plasma must be heated Above 100 million degrees CelsiusStay away from the walls of the reactor vessel, which is about seven times hotter than the core of the Sun.
• For this they are used in most thermonuclear experiments. powerful electromagnetsIt creates a donut-shaped magnetic field, called a tokamak, that keeps the plasma inside.

However, traditional electromagnets have limitations in the strength and stability of the magnetic field they can create, as well as the cost and complexity of their operation and maintenance. These factors have delayed the advancement and scaling of fusion reactors. impossible for commercial use.

An important discovery

MIT researchers, in collaboration with Commonwealth Fusion Systems, have developed a new type of electromagnet that overcomes these shortcomings.

The magnet is based on a high-temperature superconducting material called REBCORare earth is copper barium oxide. This material can conduct much higher currents and create much stronger magnetic fields than traditional superconductors, and does so at higher temperatures, reducing the need for expensive and bulky cooling systems.

REBCO electromagnet / Photo: MIT

The device reached a record magnetic field strength 20 TeslaIt is approximately 10 times stronger than a typical hospital MRI magnet. The team also tested theoretical models and simulations of the magnet’s behavior and conducted experiments to examine its performance under extreme conditions, such as partial melting of the coil.

We are already close

The successful demonstration of REBCO’s electromagnet marks an important milestone in the field of nuclear fusion as it provides the heat and stability required for viable fusion reactors.

• Researchers say new magnetic technology could reduce the size and cost of fusion reactors 10 timesThis will make them more accessible and cheaper.
• They also say the new magnet could allow the construction of a compact thermonuclear pilot plant called SPARC It will be able to produce more energy than it consumes within the next decade, a long-awaited goal of fusion research.

The team working on the project / Photo: MIT

The publication of the papers was made possible after the team obtained a patent for the design and operating principles of the electromagnet. The research brings the world closer to the moment when an artificial sun shines on Earth, providing us with sustainable and ecologically clean energy.