Русский

Oxford University Tokamak Energy Company develops laser technology for fusion power plants

122
2024-03-14 15:00:07
Посмотреть перевод

Tokamak Energy is currently developing a new laser measurement technology for controlling extreme conditions inside fusion power plants.
The laser based dispersion interferometer system is being tested at the company's headquarters in Oxford and will be installed on its world record breaking fusion machine ST40 later this year.

Clean, safe, and renewable nuclear fusion power generation occurs inside the tokamak, which is a device that heats plasma to over 100 million degrees Celsius.
A professional laser system will closely and accurately measure the hydrogen fuel contained inside, ensuring that the burning plasma remains stable and maintains density.

Dr. Tadas Pyragius, a plasma physicist at Tokamak Energy, explained, "Measuring plasma density is key to our understanding and control of fusion fuels and future efficient power plant operations.".
The interaction between laser beams emitted by plasma and electrons tells us the density of fuel, which is crucial for sustained fusion conditions and providing safe and reliable energy to the power grid.

"The extreme conditions caused by the nuclear fusion process mean that we now need to improve laser based diagnostic technology to advance our mission of providing clean, safe, and affordable nuclear fusion energy in the 2030's."
The ST40 of Tokamak Energy is the first private nuclear fusion machine to achieve a plasma ion temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius, which is the threshold for commercial nuclear fusion.

Since achieving a breakthrough in 2022, the machine has undergone a series of hardware upgrades, including new power supplies and diagnostic systems.
Last year, the company successfully debugged the Thomson scattering laser diagnostic instrument for ST40 to provide detailed readings of plasma temperature and density at specific locations.
After further upgrades and maintenance, the machine will be put back into use later in 2024.

Source: Laser Net

Связанные рекомендации
  • Researchers have developed the world's smallest silicon chip quantum photodetector

    Researchers at the University of Bristol have made significant breakthroughs in expanding quantum technology by integrating the world's smallest quantum photodetector onto silicon chips. The paper "A Bi CMOS Electron Photon Integrated Circuit Quantum Photodetector" was published in Science Advances.In the 1960s, scientists and engineers were able to miniaturize transistors onto inexpensive microch...

    2024-05-21
    Посмотреть перевод
  • JMP: Small hole mode swing laser welding of nickel based high-temperature alloys - simulation, experiment, and process diagram

    IntroductionThe small hole mode swing laser welding has gained increasing recognition due to its ability to bridge gaps, refine microstructures, and enhance the mechanical properties of welds. However, the effects of amplitude, frequency, welding speed, laser beam power, and beam radius on heat flux distribution, melting mode, and three-dimensional temperature field have not been well understood. ...

    04-11
    Посмотреть перевод
  • TRUMPF high-power laser dynamic beam shaping technology creates opportunities for the electric vehicle industry

    It is reported that researchers from TRUMPF in Germany reported research on using dynamic beam shaping of high-power lasers to improve the productivity of hairpin stators, creating opportunities for the electric vehicle industry. Relevant research was published in "PhotonicsViews" under the title "Unlocking opportunities for the EV industry with beam shaping of high-power lasers".The electric vehi...

    2024-07-01
    Посмотреть перевод
  • The tesat optical terminal selected by Lockheed Martin satellite has passed ground testing

    Tesat Spacecom's laser communication terminal announced on October 26th that the company has passed critical ground testing deployed on NASA satellites.Tesat's SCOTT80 optical terminal was selected by Lockheed Martin, one of several manufacturers producing satellites for the Space Development Agency.SDA is an agency under the United States Space Force that plans to deploy a network of interconnect...

    2023-10-27
    Посмотреть перевод
  • Bodor Laser: Laser Cutters Rank First in Global Sales for Six Consecutive Years

    On February 27, at Bodor Laser's global headquarters base in Licheng District, Jinan City, three automated production lines were operating at full capacity, struggling to meet the overwhelming demand. Lu Guohao, Secretary of the Board and Director of the President's Office at Bodor Laser, revealed that the company's laser cutter shipments exceeded 8,000 units in 2024, securing the top spot in glob...

    03-10
    Посмотреть перевод