Scientists stunned: Major fusion discovery could change the energy industry

Scientists have made a big breakthrough in fusion energy, figuring out a new plasma confinement state that could change the energy industry as we know it.

The research team, which hails from the National Institutes of Natural Science, was studying high density and high temperature plasma confinement in magnetic fields as they seek to achieve the Holy Grail of the energy industry: fusion industry, giving mankind a practically limitless supply of clean energy that could solve a whole host of worldwide problems, according to a Headlines & Global News report.

We’re probably a long way from realizing that dream, but this latest discovery could be a big step toward that goal. The researchers were able to find out that as the core temperature of plasma held in a magnetic confinement space starts to rise, a flow of disturbed plasma starts to surge in what is called turbulence. By improving upon these “magnetic islands,” they could potentially control this plasma turbulence which could lead to electricity generating fusion plasma.

This study involved the first ever discovery of a new confinement state within one of these magnetic islands. Improved confinement methods could lead to a fusion reactor.

Here is a brief more technical explanation from the National Institutes of Natural Science from their news release: “In magnetically confined plasmas twofold confinement areas called magnetic islands exist. In these areas there is no temperature gradient that results in the source of turbulence,” the statement reads. “For that reason turbulence generated outside the magnetic island where a temperature gradient exists enters into the magnetic island, and the confinement state inside the magnetic island will be determined depending upon the intensity of turbulence.

“In future fusion plasma, too, it will be extremely important to improve the magnetic island’s confinement state,” it continues. “Further, even in solar plasmas, it has been indicated from solar flare emissions that magnetic islands may exist. Thus, research on turbulence in magnetic islands is an extremely important topic.”