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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| China claims success in test of fusion reactor |
| 2006-09-29 |
| BEIJING - Scientists on Thursday carried out China’s first successful test of an experimental fusion reactor, powered by the process that fuels the sun, a research institute spokeswoman said. The test by the government’s Institute of Plasma Physics was carried out on a Tokamak fusion device in the eastern city of Hefei, said Cheng Yan, a spokeswoman at the institute. Cheng said the test was considered a success because the reactor produced plasma, a hot cloud of supercharged particles. She wouldn’t give other details. “This represents a step for humankind in the study of nuclear reaction,” she said. US and other scientists have been experimenting with fusion for decades but it has yet to be developed into a viable energy alternative. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #8 Does the phrase "when pigs friggin' fly" have any meaning? The PRC does not have the expertise to even attempt to initiate fusion IMO and that of any respected scientist I've talked to lately. I think they're listening to the NKor propagandists too much these days... |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-09-29 20:53 |
| #7 I have heard more than one scientist say that trying to make fusion like this is like trying to hold together jello with rubber bands. I'm sure there is a way to do fusion, but unless they figure out how to make magnetic fields more "solid", this isn't gonna be the way to fusion. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-09-29 16:05 |
| #6 I beg to differ. Inertial confinement is making new strides. For some very interesting reading (and illustrations), please follow this link. Any comments are quite welcome. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-09-29 15:50 |
| #5 Humanity will achieve controlled sustained fusion only when they have the technology to create and control artificial gravitational (not magnetic) fields. In other words, not for a VERY LONG time, if ever. |
| Posted by: FusionMan 2006-09-29 10:56 |
| #4 Well, no, sounds like they just managed to get to that same unproductive stage that everybody else achieved decades before I was born - non-self-sustaining fusion reaction. That's the point at which the researchers are "twenty years away from fusion power" - where they've sat, ever since, twiddling their thumbs and looking stupid. Welcome to the crowd, Chinese fusion researchers. You've now joined the ranks of the fusion failures. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2006-09-29 08:58 |
| #3 Temps have to go a lot higher to sustain a fusion reaction. Severe news media distortion in the headline. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2006-09-29 08:24 |
| #2 Chinese announcement of "successful payback reactor efficiencies" in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... This announcement brought to you by the Iranian Military Public Relations Council. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-09-29 06:00 |
| #1 A tad premature to be labeled "a step for humankind", methinks. Please register one vote for the Smells Like Bullshit graphic. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-09-29 02:43 |