'Artificial Sun' reaches a temperature of 100 million Celsius for record period. Know in detail

In what may be called a big step in the direction of harnessing unlimited clean energy from nuclear fusion, South Korean scientists have been able to produce heat of temperature 100 million Celsius for a record period of 48 seconds. The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy’s (KFE) Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) fusion reactor reached temperatures seven times that of the Sun's core, reports the CNN. The temperature of the core of the Sun is 15 million degrees Celsius.

What is nuclear fusion?

It is also significant that the KSTAR maintained the high confinement mode (H-mode) for over 100 seconds. H-mode is a stable plasma state. Fusion is the reaction that makes the sun and other stars shine. It involves fusing hydrogen and other light elements to release massive power that experts in the field hope to harness for unlimited, zero-carbon electricity.

In this reaction, two atoms of hydrogen or helium come together and fuse to unleash huge amounts of energy.

What is tokamak?

Scientists generally use a donut-shaped reactor called a tokamak in which hydrogen variants are heated to extraordinarily high temperatures to create a plasma. High temperatures and high-density plasmas are vital for the future of nuclear fusion reactors. This is called the artificial Sun because it replicates the reaction of fusion taking place there and unleashes a massive amount of heat energy.

KFE aims for 300 seconds of fusion

The earlier record of achieving this temperature was for 30 seconds which took place in 2021. The scientists at KFE said they managed to extend the time by tweaking the process. They also used tungsten instead of carbon in the 'diverters', which extract heat and impurities produced by the fusion reaction.

Si-Woo Yoon of KFE told CNN that the ultimate aim of KSTAR is to sustain plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees for 300 seconds by 2026.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor in southern France has the world's biggest tokamak and what the scientists in South Korea achieve will help French scientists.

FAQs:

Where did the nuclear fusion for 48 seconds take place and why is it important?
The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy’s (KFE) Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) fusion reactor reached temperatures of 100 million Celsius for 48 seconds. Scientists hope to harness this unlimited energy.

What is an artificial Sun?
Scientists generally use a donut-shaped reactor called a tokamak in which hydrogen variants are heated to extraordinarily high temperatures to create a plasma. High temperatures and high-density plasmas are vital for the future of nuclear fusion reactors. This is called artificial Sun because it replicates the reaction of fusion taking place there and unleashes a massive amount of heat energy.