New theory could help clear fusion power hurdle
« Back to Article
Fusion power would allow electricty to be generated using the same processes taking place in the Sun (Photo: NASA)
Physicists Luis Delgado-Aparicio and David Gates who have developed a theory that could, if proven, help fusion power become a reality (Photo: Elle Starkman, PPPL Office of Communications)
Article Summary
While solar power harnesses energy produced by the Sun, fusion power seeks to harness the very process used by the Sun to generate a practically limitless supply of clean electricity. Despite decades of research and numerous breakthroughs, “net-gain” nuclear fusion is yet to appear. One of the hurdles is the so-called density, or Greenwald, limit that sees the plasmas within experimental fusion reactors (called tokamaks) spiraling apart and disrupting the fusion process. Now scientists have come up with a new theory as to why this occurs that, if proven, could provide a way to clear the density limit hurdle.
Other Images from this Gallery
Related Articles