China has gone beyond science fiction and become the first country to successfully develop what they call a "Micro Sun" or "Artificial Sun." This is a nearly infinite energy source based on nuclear fusion. In other words, while not literally a second sun, this experiment replicates a system very similar to that of the sun, which is also formed by nuclear fusion.
This experiment is called EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak), and it was conceived in 1996, although it only took its first steps from 2006 onwards. But the project only became truly functional recently, after years and years of investment and scientific research. The device is a world pioneer, the first fully superconducting tokamak. And the objective has always been to replicate the solar physical parameters and also the engineering requirements of the respective ITER project. This feat has positioned China as a major technological reference in this type of reactor.
LSSF model.
Experimental Phases and Progressive Records
- 2006–2007: Initially, the plasma was maintained for only 3 seconds with a current of 200 kA; shortly afterwards, in January 2007, the plasma was sustained for almost 5 seconds with 500 kA.
- 2010–2011: Starting in 2010, EAST achieved high-confinement plasma, what they call (H-mode), using low-frequency waves, and from 2011 they made significant progress, maintaining the plasma at a temperature of 50 million Kelvin for 30 seconds.
- 2017–2018: In July 2017, the tokamak managed to maintain H-mode for more than 100 seconds, which was already double the results from 2011. And in November 2018, it achieved the same time, but with the difference of reaching double the electronic temperature, reaching 100 million degrees.
Artificial Sun: Millimeter Records and Final Stages
- 2021: EAST recorded plasma at nearly 120 million degrees, maintaining the plasma for 101 seconds; at the end of that same year, in December, it reached 1,056 seconds (a little over 17 minutes), which was already a major breakthrough.
- 2023: At this point, the project was already in its final stages, managing to maintain the plasma for almost 10 minutes, which was already unbelievable for many scientists.
- January 20, 2025: China can now sustain plasma for almost 20 minutes, a major historical milestone in nuclear fusion. Creating a Micro Sun for 20 minutes is enough to generate an incalculable amount of energy.
Innovations generated by the Artificial Sun
Although the artificial sun has not yet reached the ignition phase to last incessantly, the 20-minute milestone already has many practical functions in the energy field.
Furthermore, the experiment also broke records regarding its temperature, which is approximately 70,000 times hotter than the maximum temperature of domestic microwave ovens. EAST also recorded important discoveries regarding confinement modes, as well as pulse duration, temperature, and plasma density. These elements are critical and essential for future reactors such as ITER and CFETR.
Global Scientific Context
Although EAST is a Chinese project, today it serves as an open testing platform for both Chinese and international scientists worldwide. It contributes to numerous projects such as ITER (located in southern France), in which China also participates with almost 10% of the construction and operation.
The history of records and experiments provides practical insights for developing the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor, which will be the next generation of "artificial sun" in China.