International scientists have made a milestone in fusion energy as they discover a new plasma confinement state that could significantly change the energy industry.
One of the most daunting challenges of fusion research is to maintain plasma temperature. Plasma, which is the fourth state of matter and is a gas that contains electrically-charged electrons and ions, is regularly being cooled by impurities from its reactor wall. Scientists have long researched about possible interventions to prevent the erosion of the plasma vessel wall that leads to the entry of the impurities. The additional heat that is administered to the plasma must also be extracted with utmost control.
In the new research from the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, the authors were studying high density and high temperature plasma confinement in magnetic fields to attain a breakthrough in the energy industry: fusion technology that could provide humanity with endless supply of clean energy.
Current sources of energy are commonly associated with “dirty” consequences that result in pollution and other detrimental effects to the environment. Coal power plants are the source of about 44 percent of electricity in the United States but the process of burning coal results in toxic emissions, global warming and increased air pollution. Land, air, water and wildlife are also affected by coal power plant operations.
With the new plasma confinement state discovery, the world would benefit from clean air and a more efficient and environment-friendly energy industry could ensue.
Although the said breakthrough is still far from reach, the new discovery of the researchers could be a big leap towards achieving that objective. They were able to find that as the core temperature of plasma trapped in magnetic confinement increases, a flow of disturbed plasma starts to undergo a state of turbulence. Such discovery implies that by improving this so-called "magnetic islands," plasma turbulence can be controlled and result in a fusion plasma that could generate electricity.
The discovery is the first of its kind, in terms of finding a new confinement state with the islands. Improving the process of confinement could pave the way for the development of fusion reactor plasma.
"This discovery, because it is essential for improving the confinement of the fusion reactor plasma, will be an important compass pointing in the direction of future fusion research," the news release for the study read. It could help hasten the use of fusion reactors as the world's main source of energy, which is a great boost in the energy industry.
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports on Nov. 4, 2015.
