Context:
Chinese scientists managed to keep plasma at 100 million degrees Celsius for about 1,066 seconds in a nuclear fusion reactor called EAST.
Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST)
- An advanced nuclear fusion research device became operational in 2006.
- Location: China (Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
- Purpose:
- Artificial sun to replicate nuclear fusion, the reaction that powers the sun.
- Part of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) facility.
- Working:
- Based on nuclear fusion process like in the Sun and Stars.
- Tremendous heat and pressure applied to hydrogen atoms to fuse.
- Nuclei of deuterium and tritium (found in hydrogen) fuse to create a helium nucleus, neutron, and a lot of energy.
- Hydrogen fuel heated to over 150 million degrees Celsius, forming hot plasma (electrically charged gas) of subatomic particles.
- Strong magnetic field keeps plasma away from reactor walls, preventing cooling and loss of energy potential.
- Plasma confined for long durations to enable fusion.
About ITER:
- Aim –
- To demonstrate nuclear fusion as a clean green source of energy.
- To build the world’s largest tokamak
- Location – Southern France
- Collaboration between – 35 nations including China, EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and US.
What is a Tokomak?
- Tokamak is a magnetic fusion device designed to tap into the potential of fusion energy in large scale and carbon-free source of energy.
- It operates based on same principles that power the Sun and stars.
- Uses robust magnetic field to fuse hot plasma.
- Temperature range – over 150 million degrees Celsius (10 times hotter than Sun’s core).
- Applications – Generation of electricity etc.
Similar Initiatives Across the World
- HL-2A Reactor: China’s advanced nuclear fusion research device.
- HL-2M Tokamak: China’s largest and most advanced nuclear fusion experimental research device.
- J-TEXT: China’s Joint TEXT Tokamak for nuclear fusion research.
- SST-2 Tokamak: India’s experimental fusion reactor at the Institute of Plasma Research, Gujarat.
- The Joint European Torus (JET): A project aimed at paving the way for future nuclear fusion grid energy.
- K-STAR: South Korea’s superconducting tokamak advanced research facility.
- Wendelstein 7-X: Germany’s stellarator for nuclear fusion research.
Nuclear Fission & Nuclear Fusion:
| Aspect | Nuclear Fission | Nuclear Fusion |
| Definition | Splitting of a nucleus into smaller particles, releasing a high amount of energy. | Combining two smaller atoms to create a larger atom, releasing energy. |
| Occurrence | Not common in nature. | Common in stars such as the Sun. |
| Requirements | May require high-speed neutrons. | Requires high temperature and high-pressure conditions. |
| Energy Production | Produces high energy. | Reactions of light nuclei produce very high energy; reactions of heavy nuclei may not release energy. |
| Examples | Neutron bombardment of uranium-235 and radioactive decay in unstable isotopes. | Fusion between Deuterium and Tritium. |
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage of India?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation.
(b) It can attain a global role in satellite navigation
(c) It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation
(d) It can build fusion reactors for power generation
Answer: (d)