WHAT: National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX)
WHERE: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, New Jersey
WHO: A coalition of 14 fusion-research institutions funded by the US Department of Energy
WHY: To test whether new generation methods can make magnetic fusion an efficient, affordable source of energy. During the next few years, researchers will use this $25 million prototype - the first large-scale spherical torus reactor - to study technologies that optimize the fusion process, which produces no air pollutants, is safer than fission, and can't be used in weapons.
HOW: Deuterium gas is heated to 100 million degrees Celsius, which causes the hydrogen isotopes to break down into plasma and their nuclei to fuse, releasing helium and a free neutron as energy. The electrical heating coils that surround the NSTX's central chamber create a magnetic field that confines the plasma and forces particles to flow in a spiral, building momentum. Unlike the doughnut-shaped design of older magnetic fusion reactors, the spherical torus contains the plasma at a lower field strength, producing proportionally higher fusion power while requiring considerably less external energy to drive the reaction.
MORE: nstx.pppl.gov
