WHAM! Nuclear fusion experiment hits new record for magnet strength | TechCrunch
The University of Wisconsin-Madison's WHAM experiment has set a record. It achieved the strongest steady magnetic field. This breakthrough provides new hope for future reactors. The goal is to produce more power than they consume.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) provided the new magnets. This pioneering startup delivered them earlier this month. Upon chilling and applying a strong current, the magnets reached 17 teslas. This is more than twice the strength of MRI scanners.
Strong magnets are vital for fusion power. Doubling the strength increases power output 16-fold. WHAM has operated for years, but this is the first plasma with new magnets. Kieran Furlong, CEO of Realta Fusion, confirmed this.
MIT's Alcator C-Mod held the previous record. The fusion community remains close-knit. Alcator C-Mod's research proved CFS's reactor and magnet designs. CFS aims to commercialize fusion power. They use a new magnet design.
CFS was spun out of MIT in 2018. Their reactor, a tokamak, shapes plasma like a doughnut. Realta and WHAM use a magnetic mirror design. This design shapes plasma like a Tootsie Roll.
Two magnets compress the plasma at both ends. Hydrogen ions collide, releasing heat. WHAM tests the mirror reactor design. Realta plans to build Anvil, a demo reactor. They aim to complete it later this decade.
Anvil will be larger than WHAM. It will provide more design data. It will allow testing of reactor materials. Realta will then build Hammer. It will feature two magnets on each end. Hammer will be longer and more powerful.
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The WHAM project at UW-Madison set a magnetic field record. This progress brings fusion power closer to reality. Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) supplied the new magnets. Powerful magnets are essential for fusion power. They improve reactor power output.
The WHAM project got these magnets recently. They produced a 17-tesla magnetic field. For comparison, MRI scanners are much weaker. Kieran Furlong of Realta Fusion discussed this milestone. Strong magnets are vital for fusion reactors.
MIT's Alcator C-Mod held the last record. CFS uses designs proven by this research. CFS formed in 2018 from MIT research. Their reactors create doughnut-shaped plasma. Realta and WHAM use a different design. They shape plasma like a Tootsie Roll.
Two magnets compress plasma ends. Collisions release heat. WHAM tests this design. Realta's next reactor is Anvil. It's set to complete this decade. It'll be larger and test more materials. The next step is Hammer. It will have more magnets and power.
Realta plans long-term growth. They aim for more efficient reactors. The fusion industry continues to evolve rapidly. WHAM's team took a big step. This is promising for future energy solutions. Successful fusion reactors could change the energy landscape.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) provided the new magnets. This pioneering startup delivered them earlier this month. Upon chilling and applying a strong current, the magnets reached 17 teslas. This is more than twice the strength of MRI scanners.
Strong magnets are vital for fusion power. Doubling the strength increases power output 16-fold. WHAM has operated for years, but this is the first plasma with new magnets. Kieran Furlong, CEO of Realta Fusion, confirmed this.
MIT's Alcator C-Mod held the previous record. The fusion community remains close-knit. Alcator C-Mod's research proved CFS's reactor and magnet designs. CFS aims to commercialize fusion power. They use a new magnet design.
CFS was spun out of MIT in 2018. Their reactor, a tokamak, shapes plasma like a doughnut. Realta and WHAM use a magnetic mirror design. This design shapes plasma like a Tootsie Roll.
Two magnets compress the plasma at both ends. Hydrogen ions collide, releasing heat. WHAM tests the mirror reactor design. Realta plans to build Anvil, a demo reactor. They aim to complete it later this decade.
Anvil will be larger than WHAM. It will provide more design data. It will allow testing of reactor materials. Realta will then build Hammer. It will feature two magnets on each end. Hammer will be longer and more powerful.
---
The WHAM project at UW-Madison set a magnetic field record. This progress brings fusion power closer to reality. Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) supplied the new magnets. Powerful magnets are essential for fusion power. They improve reactor power output.
The WHAM project got these magnets recently. They produced a 17-tesla magnetic field. For comparison, MRI scanners are much weaker. Kieran Furlong of Realta Fusion discussed this milestone. Strong magnets are vital for fusion reactors.
MIT's Alcator C-Mod held the last record. CFS uses designs proven by this research. CFS formed in 2018 from MIT research. Their reactors create doughnut-shaped plasma. Realta and WHAM use a different design. They shape plasma like a Tootsie Roll.
Two magnets compress plasma ends. Collisions release heat. WHAM tests this design. Realta's next reactor is Anvil. It's set to complete this decade. It'll be larger and test more materials. The next step is Hammer. It will have more magnets and power.
Realta plans long-term growth. They aim for more efficient reactors. The fusion industry continues to evolve rapidly. WHAM's team took a big step. This is promising for future energy solutions. Successful fusion reactors could change the energy landscape.