In a monumental breakthrough, the KSTAR fusion reactor in Korea has reached a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius for the first time. This achievement was made during tests conducted between December 2023 and February 2024, where the reactor successfully maintained this temperature for 48 seconds. This marks a new record for the Korea Tokamak Superconducting Advanced Research (KSTAR) project and represents a significant advancement in fusion energy research.
In addition to maintaining high temperatures, the KSTAR fusion reactor also achieved the high limit mode (H mode) for more than 100 seconds. This operating mode is crucial for stabilizing the plasma state in magnetically confined fusion reactions. The ultimate goal of fusion reactors is to mimic the energy production process of stars, where hydrogen nuclei and other light elements are fused to generate massive amounts of energy, potentially leading to limitless carbon-free electricity.
The success of the KSTAR reactor is attributed to the implementation of a new tungsten diverter, a key component that expels exhaust gases and impurities from the reactor while enduring high surface heat loads. By switching from carbon to tungsten in the diverter, the KSTAR team was able to improve heat resistance and maintain H mode for extended periods. This breakthrough could provide valuable insights for the International Thermal Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, an international collaborative effort to develop a thermonuclear reactor using tungsten diverters.
As fusion energy research continues to advance, sustaining extreme temperatures and plasma conditions for prolonged durations is crucial. The innovative use of materials such as tungsten in divertors represents a significant step forward in the quest for practical fusion energy solutions. The success of KSTAR’s fusion reactor marks a significant milestone in South Korea’s efforts towards clean and sustainable energy sources and sets an example for other countries around the world working on this technology.
Overall, this achievement represents a major leap forward in our understanding and ability to harness nuclear power safely and efficiently on Earth without generating harmful radioactive waste or carbon emissions.
