Researchers at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) in Germany have developed a new way to harness the power of nuclear fusion as part of their effort to find safer and cleaner sources of energy.
In an experiment set to be carried out at the institute's Greifswald facility on Wednesday, scientists will attempt to superheat a small amount of hydrogen using a special device until the gas becomes plasma, creating conditions similar to the sun's interior.
Their goal is to utilize substantial amounts of energy expected to be produced through this nuclear fusion.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is known to have a doctor's degree in physics, is set to attend the event.
Harnessing Energy From Nuclear Fusion
With carbon emissions becoming increasingly problematic for national governments to deal with, nuclear fusion advocates believe that the technology would provide a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels and conventional reactors that depend on nuclear fission.
However, they admit that it may take a few decades before nuclear fusion can reach its full potential.
Several developed countries and entities, including China, Japan, Russia, the United States and the European Union, have begun construction of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France. It will serve as the center for the largest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment in the world.
The ITER's design features the use of a doughnut-shaped device known as a tokamak that would trap plasma energy long enough to allow fusion reaction to take place. It builds on a concept devised by Soviet physicists during the 1950s.
The MPI project is dedicated to creating new technology that would rival the stellarator plasma device, which was invented by theoretical physicist Lyman Spitzer. While it uses a doughnut-shape design similar to the tokamak, Spitzer's stellarator makes use of magnetic coils in order to achieve a similar effect.
Thomas Klinger, one of the researchers involved in the project, said that their version of the stellarator would be able to store plasma for longer periods.
He added that even though is more difficult to build a stellarator, it is considerably calmer and easier to use than other similar devices.
The device, which has been given the name Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, cost €400 million (about $437 million) to make.
During a test in December, the researchers used the stellarator to heat helium. Aside from being easier to heat, the gas also "cleaned" tiny dirt particles that were left behind in the device while it was being built.
Despite receiving criticism from opponents of nuclear fusion, Germany has continued to fund the development of the technology. It has cost the government approximately €1.06 billion ($1.16 billion) over the past 20 years.
