FPN05-02
Fusion Advance Made in Japan
January 7, 2005
Scientists at the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) in Japan
took an important step towards demonstrating the practicality of fusion
power plants recently by sustaining a 20 million degree (2KeV) plasma for
30 minutes in the billion-dollar-class Large Helical Device (LHD). The
plasma density was around 8 trillion particles per cubic centimeter.
During the 30 minute run, 1.3 billion joules of energy was poured into the
plasma, setting a new world record in this regard. As part of the
demonstration, the scientists demonstrated the successful application of
sophisticated radio-frequency power technologies to heat and sustain the
plasma for the full duration of the run. Approximately 700 kW of power was
continously applied at the electron and ion cyclotron frequencies.
Details are posted at http://www.nifs.ac.jp