Chinese scientists have reported that the nuclear fusion test device, also known as the “artificial sun,” has exceeded the threshold of one hundred million degrees in ion and electron temperatures. According to China’s state television CCTV, the experimental reactor named “HL-3” located in the city of Chengdu in Sichuan province has approached temperatures that could initiate a nuclear fusion reaction similar to that of the Sun. Researchers indicated that the ion temperature reached 117 million degrees, while the electron temperature reached 160 million degrees. Chief Designer of the reactor, Cong Vulu, stated, “With this experiment, we have made a significant breakthrough in overall fusion performance by achieving the double one hundred million degrees target. This signifies that China’s fusion research has entered the burning plasma phase.” Cong emphasized that HL-3 is the first reactor where heating, control, and diagnostic systems are entirely developed in China.

NUCLEAR FUSION RING
Nuclear fusion rings, known as “Tokamaks,” control high-temperature plasma within a ring-shaped magnetic field. The nuclear reaction where hydrogen atoms turn into helium produces large-scale energy output. Cong and his team used high-power microwave generators to heat electrons and high-energy particle beams to increase the temperature of the atomic nucleus to achieve record temperature levels. Researchers overcame instabilities limiting heating levels by developing a new method to trap energy in the plasma core and set new global standards for fusion experiments with high precision control and diagnostic tools. China also possesses another plasma reactor named the “Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak” (EAST). Located in Hefei, Anhui province, EAST is used for longer plasma experiments. The larger HL-3 is intended to be used not only for experiments and research but also for developing a real nuclear fusion reactor.