On October 10, plasma was generated for the first time in the world's largest tokamak-type superconducting fusion experimental device, ``JT-23SA,'' located at the Naka Research Institute of the Quantum Science and Technology Research Institute (QST) in Ibaraki Prefecture.The generation of the first plasma means that the complex systems are working well together and can be operated as a device, marking a major milestone for fusion reactors.
Creating results that will lead to DEMO development and developing human resources who will lead the future
The JT-60SA is an experimental device constructed by Japan and Europe in cooperation to support and complement the ITER project, which aims to commercialize fusion energy. In March 2021, insulation damage occurred in the coil connection between the superconducting coil body and the electrical circuit inside the cryostat, and integrated test operations were suspended, but major repairs have been made and integrated tests will begin in May 3. Resumed driving.After vacuum evacuation, cooling of the superconducting coil, and energization test, plasma was generated for the first time at around 2023:5 on October 2023, 10 Japan time.
Matter has three states: solid, liquid, and gas, and plasma refers to the highly activated fourth state in which heat and electrical energy are added to gas, and positive and negative ions are mixed.In order to achieve energy generation through nuclear fusion reactions, it is necessary to maintain ultra-high temperature plasma of over 1 million degrees. It is a tokamak-type device that uses superconducting coils to confine plasma using a magnetic field.
The fuel required for fusion can be extracted from seawater, and it has the advantage of not emitting carbon dioxide during the power generation process, making it a next-generation technology that can fundamentally solve energy and environmental problems. Energy and expected. The JT-60SA will carry out experiments to improve plasma performance in the future.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology plans to utilize this device to quickly produce results that will lead to the development of a DEMO reactor, as well as to develop human resources who will lead the future.In addition, the National Institute for Fusion Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, is calling on universities and graduate schools across the country to provide information, and has created and published a portal site for finding universities and graduate schools where students can study and research plasma and fusion science.The published data is current as of March 2020, 3, but the information is introduced with links such as educational content, number of lectures, number of teachers and students, and is useful for high school and university students interested in plasma and nuclear fusion. ing.
●Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: A major step towards the realization of fusion energy similar to the energy of the sun "JT-60SA's first plasma generation succeeded"
https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/activity/detail/2023/20231023.html
●What is nuclear fusion energy?
https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shinkou/fusion/
●Universities and laboratories where you can study plasma and nuclear fusion
https://www.nifs.ac.jp/edu/study/index.html
