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On February 12, 2025, the nuclear fusion reactor located in southern France, named WEST (Tungsten Environment in Steady-State Tokamak), set a world record by maintaining plasma for 1,337 seconds. This time, during which France’s “artificial sun” remained active, is 25% higher than the previous record set by EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak), located in China. This advancement is crucial for the future of clean and sustainable energy.
The Importance of France’s “Artificial Sun” Record
This advancement marks a significant milestone in the development of nuclear fusion reactors, such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), which aims to maintain plasmas for minutes or even hours. Keeping the plasma stable within the nuclear fusion reactor is one of the greatest challenges, as its instability can damage the machine’s components or interrupt the process.
The team from the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is working to further extend this duration, aiming to achieve hours of continuous operation and increase the plasma temperature to approach ideal conditions for nuclear fusion. This progress represents a significant step toward clean and safe energy generation.
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How Does the Nuclear Fusion Reactor in France Work?
The success of this nuclear fusion reactor is the result of decades of research on the use of tokamaks, devices that allow for the study and control of plasmas. This technology includes superconducting coils and active cooling systems, which are essential to keep France’s “artificial sun” operating for long periods.
The WEST is part of a global effort involving other major projects, such as:
- Joint European Torus (JET) in the United Kingdom;
- JT-60SA in Japan;
- EAST in China;
- KSTAR in South Korea;
- ITER, which will be the largest nuclear fusion reactor in the world.
The WEST is more than an evolution of the Tore Supra, a reactor that has been in existence for over 25 years. It has been redesigned to serve as a testing facility and help reduce the risks associated with ITER.
The Future of Nuclear Fusion and France’s Role
In a statement, the fundamental research director of the CEA, Anne-Isabelle Etienvre, highlighted that the WEST reached a historic milestone by maintaining the plasma for over 20 minutes, with 2 megawatts (MW) of heating power. Experiments will continue to further increase power and efficiency, preparing the scientific community for the arrival of ITER.
Why Do Scientists Want to Create an “Artificial Sun”?
Nuclear fusion seeks to replicate the process that occurs in the core of the Sun, where hydrogen atoms fuse, releasing an immense amount of clean and safe energy. This technology is seen as a sustainable alternative to nuclear fission, as it does not generate long-lived radioactive waste and uses abundant fuel found on Earth.
The JET, one of the largest tokamaks in the world, has already demonstrated that it is possible to generate 15 MW of clean energy for a few seconds. With ITER, France is positioning itself to lead the production of energy through nuclear fusion. Despite the technical and economic challenges, this advancement represents a crucial step in transforming nuclear fusion into a viable source of clean energy on a large scale.
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Dada coisa para pesquisa .como a cura xe várias doenças..
Será um grande passo para inclusive uma fonte de energia limpa para aplicar no futuro nave ou foguetes na exploração de outros planetas outros mundos !