French Scientists Set New World Record with Nuclear Fusion Reactor

FRFrance|

French researchers have achieved a remarkable milestone in nuclear fusion by sustaining plasma for a record-breaking 1,337 seconds at their WEST tokamak, surpassing China's EAST machine, which previously held the record at 1,066 seconds. According to the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, the achievement marks a significant step toward the realization of stable nuclear fusion as a sustainable energy source.

The WEST reactor, resembling a doughnut, uses powerful magnetic fields to confine plasma, similar to the processes occurring within stars. While this breakthrough represents substantial progress, scientists caution that developing the necessary infrastructure for large-scale energy production will take several decades.

Researchers face the ongoing challenge of replicating the extreme temperatures and pressures found in stellar cores, which are essential for long-lasting plasma stability. Both EAST and WEST reactors are products of international collaboration and contribute to the broader ITER fusion reactor project currently under development in France.

This scientific advancement highlights the ongoing global effort to harness fusion energy as a cleaner energy alternative.

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