Korean Artificial Sun runs at 100 million °C for 20s

[HEXUS]

A new world record for superconducting fusion, the previous record was just 8s.

Read more.

[six_tymes]

based on the biyearly "milestones" and assuming they advance at the same rate (which I know can vary) but assuming its approximately the same, does anyone feel like calculating how many centuries it will take to be the equivalent projected life span of the sun?

[Xlucine]

based on the biyearly "milestones" and assuming they advance at the same rate (which I know can vary) but assuming its approximately the same, does anyone feel like calculating how many centuries it will take to be the equivalent projected life span of the sun?

Some kind of fusion Moore's law? Averaging the increase from 2018-2020 (1.5 to 20s in 2 years, so 3.65x pa), we'd hit a day of continuous operation around 2026 and a full year in 2031. In about 10 years the rate at which the maximum run time increases will equal the rate at which time passes (so if the reactor can be upgraded while running, it could run continuously from that point)

The 3.64x increase is unrealistic, of course - from 2018-2019 they increased the run time by over 5x, while 2019-2020 they only managed 2.5x

[Tabbykatze]

I mean, they didn't just beat the previous record, they smashed it.

From Xlucines calculations above, it could be quite reasonable to expect a strong rate of fusion development over the next 10-20 years, it's starting to move out of Sci-Fi and into reality so the rate of investment and public development will vastly increase. We could be seeing a new energy war for the first country to reach fusion self sufficience.

Pretty amazing tbh.

[Gentle Viking]

Well if they can sustain operations for 1 hour, then if the system are build right and there are no mechanical issues, then it also be able to run "forever"
To me the interesting question is why the experiment was stopped so "soon" but i assume if they them self stopped it then it would be said.

These and other similar projects are some of the most interesting stuff going on,also some of the most important stuff.

[Tabbykatze]

Well if they can sustain operations for 1 hour, then if the system are build right and there are no mechanical issues, then it also be able to run "forever"
To me the interesting question is why the experiment was stopped so "soon" but i assume if they them self stopped it then it would be said.

These and other similar projects are some of the most interesting stuff going on,also some of the most important stuff.

I would assume they got the data they wanted to support/disprove the models for long operation they are examining and rather than keep running and risk issues in unknown territory they powered down to get project and model a longer test.

Baby steps!

[Xlucine]

They probably didn't turn it off after 20 seconds - maintaining the plasma is very hard, the device likely stopped plasma-ing of it's own accord

[fend_oblivion]

Nuclear fusion reactors would solve a lot of our energy needs. This is just amazing. Wow.