MAST Upgrade 바카라 사이트� helping answer the big questions in fusion physics
UKAEA and worldwide team tackle fusion physics바카라 사이트� major challenges as MAST Upgrade begins its fourth round of experiments.
Image Credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
A worldwide team is spearheading a series of ambitious experiments using the UK바카라 사이트檚 compact tokamak, Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade, starting today at UKAEA바카라 사이트檚 Culham Campus.聽聽
Over the next 100 days, the UK바카라 사이트檚 national fusion energy laboratory will work with more than 100 scientists from 37 institutions worldwide on MAST Upgrade바카라 사이트檚 fourth round of experiments.聽聽
The scientists aim to conduct over 50 experiments, the largest number ever run by MAST Upgrade in an experimental campaign, to generate up to 1,600 plasma pulses. A 바카라 사이트減ulse바카라 사이트� refers to the duration a plasma is confined within a fusion energy machine바카라 사이트檚 inner vessel.聽聽
To create fusion, fusion fuel and a confined environment with high temperatures and pressures are needed.聽
The research findings from MAST Upgrade are essential for advancing global knowledge of plasma physics.聽聽
MAST Upgrade is a compact fusion machine designed in the shape of a cored apple, in contrast to other ring-shaped tokamaks. It tests plasma science theories with deuterium fuel 바카라 사이트� an isotope of hydrogen 바카라 사이트� using real-world experiments.聽聽
This will be MAST Upgrade바카라 사이트檚 fourth scientific campaign and will focus on these two areas:聽
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Maximising the core plasma pressure to determine effects on the plasma바카라 사이트檚 properties.聽
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Understanding the methods to control the plasma바카라 사이트檚 exhaust.聽
MAST Upgrade has played a key role in providing the foundation for the design of the UK바카라 사이트檚 prototype fusion energy powerplant, Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), to be sited at West Burton in Nottinghamshire.聽
The experiments will see MAST Upgrade operate at higher temperatures (35 million degrees Celsius from 15 million degrees Celsius), creating conditions closer to those expected in future machines, such as STEP.聽聽
James Harrison, MAST Upgrade Science Leader at UKAEA, said: 바카라 사이트淎 diverse team of researchers from across the world will be contributing to this effort. This will be the most exciting scientific campaign MAST Upgrade has undertaken to date, with a clear focus on understanding how to confine and stabilise high-performance fusion plasmas while ensuring effective power exhaust.바카라 사이트澛�
MAST Upgrade is renowned by the fusion industry for addressing one of fusion바카라 사이트檚 major challenges: plasma exhaust, the intense heat that escapes from the plasma.聽聽
Dr Fulvio Militello, Director of Plasma Science and Fusion Operations, added: 바카라 사이트淧revious results have demonstrated the effectiveness of MAST Upgrade바카라 사이트檚 innovative Super-X divertor, showing a 10-fold reduction exhaust temperature without impacting the hot core plasma. This campaign aims to build on these impressive results and will explore whether more compact and cost-effective divertors can achieve similar reductions in exhaust temperature.바카라 사이트澛�
MAST Upgrade received significant enhancements to its operating system this year, including the addition of a cryoplant 바카라 사이트� a facility that produces and distributes the cooling power required for the magnets, thermal shields, and cryopumps to reduce the pressure inside the machine바카라 사이트檚 inner vessel, and raise the plasma바카라 사이트檚 temperature. The 拢5 million enhancements were funded by UKAEA and the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council.聽聽
Equipped with world-class diagnostics, MAST Upgrade can conduct a wide range of measurements supporting an extensive research programme aimed at delivering sustainable fusion energy.聽
바카라 사이트淏y utilising our world-leading facilities and expertise at UKAEA, we aim to lead the charge in fusion research. MAST Upgrade바카라 사이트檚 fourth round of experiments will accelerate our scientific progress by deepening the understanding and optimisation of future tokamak designs and fusion powerplants, bringing us one step further to commercial fusion energy,바카라 사이트� Dr Militello, concluded.聽聽
UKAEA will be publishing regular updates from MAST Upgrade바카라 사이트檚 scientific campaign across its digital channels.