China's 'Artificial Sun' Achieves 1,066-Second Fusion Record at 100 Million Degrees Using H-Mode

Jan 21, 2025, 01:47 AM

China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), often referred to as the "artificial sun," has set a new world record by sustaining high-confinement plasma operation for 1,066 seconds at temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius. The breakthrough, achieved on January 20, 2025, in Hefei, Anhui Province, marks a significant milestone in nuclear fusion research. The previous record, also held by EAST, was 403 seconds in 2023. This achievement demonstrates progress toward creating a stable and sustainable energy source through nuclear fusion, which mimics the processes of the Sun. EAST's operation utilized H-mode, a preferred mode for future fusion reactors, and lasted over 17 minutes. The EAST project, commissioned in 2006 and led by the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aims to develop a clean and nearly limitless energy source. It also serves as a platform for international scientific collaboration in fusion research. The success was enabled by advancements in heating systems and plasma control technologies, which doubled the device's previous power capacity. EAST has secured approximately 2,000 patents and provides valuable insights for large-scale projects such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).