Researchers in China claim to have discovered a new cheaper way of achieving nuclear fusion that could rival much more expensive counterparts. Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Physics began their research into fusion power at the Shenguang II laser facility last summer, as per The South China Morning Post.
However, the government gave the team just $156 million over six years to carry out the research. It’s a very less amount compared to fusion reactors such as the International Thermal Experimental Reactor (ITER), which has a budget of around $45 to $65 billion.
Low-cost nuclear fusion
The team also wanted to improve on experiments conducted at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), which resulted in more fusion energy output than previously produced in a lab. That experiment involved aiming 100 extremely powerful lasers at a single target, which deformed the mirrors used to create the lasers and reduced the accuracy.
Besides achieving fusion, the team was also required to figure out how to do it on a budget and use less powerful lasers. Eventually, they used a process that was developed in 1997 by Zhang Jie, a known Chinese physicist. The method involved weaker lasers aiming at two small gold cones that emit hydrogen plasma at each other. When it happens with the right parameters, a fusion reaction can take place.
Sophisticated tools could help research
The gold cones vaporize after fusion, but the cost will be “extremely small — if not negligible — in the future operation of a power plant,” Zhang Zhe, the lead researcher told the SCMP. “A small grain of gold can make thousands of cones.”
Though the team also ran into some issues during their research, Zhang says that they managed to make good progress. He believes the team will be able to scale their research with more advanced tools in the future that “will lift the game to a whole new level.”
“It is difficult to predict which approach or which country will win the race at this stage. There are too many uncertainties ahead,” an anonymous nuclear fusion scientist told the SCMP. “But in the end, different technologies, different nations may need to unite as one to bring fusion from dream to life.”
