Tokamak experiments exceed plasma density limit, offering new approach to fusion ignition
Phys.org••science
Key Points:
- Researchers working on China's EAST tokamak have experimentally accessed a theorized "density-free regime," achieving stable plasma operation at densities well beyond conventional empirical limits.
- This breakthrough addresses a major challenge in nuclear fusion, where plasma density has traditionally been limited by instabilities that disrupt confinement and hinder fusion performance.
- The team utilized a novel high-density operating scheme based on plasma–wall self-organization (PWSO) theory, balancing plasma and metallic wall interactions to avoid disruptive instabilities.
- By optimizing plasma–wall interactions early in the startup phase through controlled fuel gas pressure and electron cyclotron resonance heating, the researchers significantly reduced impurity accumulation and energy losses.
- These results offer a promising and scalable pathway to extend density limits in
