France Achieves Fusion Record: 22-Minute Plasma Reaction
On February 12th, France’s CEA WEST Tokamak reactor achieved a groundbreaking milestone in fusion energy research, sustaining a plasma reaction for over 22 minutes—surpassing a previous record set by China. This extended reaction, at temperatures of 100-150 million °C and pressures of 5-10 atmospheres, successfully maintained stability without component damage. The experiment’s success demonstrates significant progress towards a self-sustaining fusion reaction and will inform the development of larger reactors like ITER. Future experiments aim to extend reaction times to several hours at even higher temperatures.
John Q. Hosedrinker