In the heart of Japan, scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in the quest for sustainable nuclear fusion energy. At the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, researchers led by Dr. Satoshi Inoue have successfully demonstrated advanced control techniques on the world’s largest tokamak, JT-60SA. This milestone could pave the way for more stable and efficient fusion reactors, bringing us closer to a future powered by clean, limitless energy.
The JT-60SA, a superconducting tokamak, is a critical stepping stone towards the development of DEMO reactors, which aim to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power on an industrial scale. One of the key challenges in controlling large tokamaks is managing the plasma’s position, shape, and current without the aid of stabilizing plates or in-vessel coils, which are impractical due to the presence of tritium breeding blankets.
Dr. Inoue and his team have developed novel control schemes to address this challenge. The adaptive voltage allocation (AVA) scheme automatically distributes power supply voltages for plasma control, while the last closed flux surface reconstruction scheme accurately determines the plasma shape even in the presence of large eddy currents. “These schemes allow us to control the plasma more precisely and robustly, which is crucial for the success of future fusion reactors,” Dr. Inoue explained.
During the first operational phase of JT-60SA, the team successfully resolved interference in the control of plasma shape, position, and current. They achieved an elongation of 1.7, a measure of the plasma’s vertical stability, and generated the world’s largest plasma current of 1.2 million amperes in a superconducting tokamak. These milestones demonstrate the potential of the new control schemes to enhance the performance and stability of fusion reactors.
The implications of this research are significant for the energy sector. Fusion power has the potential to provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The advanced control techniques developed by Dr. Inoue and his team could play a crucial role in making fusion power a reality, shaping the future of energy production and consumption.
The findings of this research were published in the journal ‘Nuclear Fusion’, which translates to ‘Nuclear Fusion’ in English. As we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in fusion research, the work of Dr. Inoue and his team serves as a testament to the power of innovation and the potential of fusion energy to transform our world. The energy sector is watching closely, as the successful implementation of these control schemes could accelerate the development of commercial fusion reactors, bringing us one step closer to a sustainable energy future.
