An experimental fusion reactor from the American company Zap Energy has reached temperatures higher than those in the core of the sun. Zap Energy takes a different approach than most other merger companies.
Zap Energy achieved plasma electron temperatures of 1 to 3 kiloelectron volts during experiments. That roughly corresponds to 11 to 37 million degrees Celsius. For comparison: in the core of the sun the mercury reaches 15 million degrees Celsius.
The company used an experimental reactor called Fusion Z-Pinch Experiment (FuZe). Unlike most nuclear fusion reactors, plasma in FuZe is not held together by superconducting magnets or powerful lasers. Instead, FuZe uses electrical currents passed through thin plasma filaments. These currents create electromagnetic fields that heat and compress the plasma.
In addition, FuZe applies a technique called sheared-flow stabilization, in which the speed of plasma particles is adjusted along certain directions to promote stability. The latter is important, because plasma must remain hot enough for nuclear fusion for a long time. Zap Energy describes the experiments it conducted in a study.
Not ready yet
As with any report on progress in nuclear fusion, it should be noted that the technology is far from ready for commercial reactors. FuZe is an experimental reactor that is unable to produce more energy than necessary to start a reaction. The technology developed will be used in new experimental reactors.
Zap Energy is already building the next experimental reactor, called Fuze-Q. That reactor must have a ten times higher energy capacity than its predecessor. Higher temperatures must also be reached.
The company’s end goal is to build compact fusion reactors that can be used in cities, businesses and industry.
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