This new record means that the clean and viable energy source is way closer to reality than ever before.
Plasma pressure is the important ingredient for generating energy from nuclear fusion.
The previous record of 1.77 atmospheres was set in 2005 (also at Alcator C-Mod).
The new record of 2.05 atmospheres means MIT improved pressure by around 15 percent.
The record plasma pressure validates the high-magnetic-field approach as an attractive path to practical fusion energy.
While fusion energy powers the sun, it is not so easy to replicate on Earth.
The power you’re free to extract from a fusion reactor increases as the square of the pressure.
You get four times the power if you double the pressure.
Tokamaks have donut-shaped chambers where the plasma is confined by strong magnetic fields.
They are considered the most promising fusion reactor designs for their safety and reliability.
Alcator C-Mod operated for 23 years until Congress decided to stop funding it in 2012.
The facility has contributed to more than 150 PhD theses and dozens of inter institutional research projects.
Source:MIT News
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