MIT Scientists Make Breakthrough in Fusion Energy Rampdown Prediction
Scientists at MIT have made a significant breakthrough in fusion energy research. They've developed a method to predict how plasma in a tokamak will behave during a rampdown, a crucial step towards safer and more efficient fusion power plants.
Tokamaks, experimental fusion devices first built in the Soviet Union, use powerful magnets to contain and harness the sun's fusion energy. One challenge is safely turning off the plasma current, which can reach speeds up to 100 kilometers per second and temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius.
The new method combines machine-learning tools with a physics-based model of plasma dynamics. It simulates plasma behavior and instabilities during rampdowns, helping predict how the plasma will react when the current is turned off. The researchers trained and tested the model on data from an experimental tokamak in Switzerland, achieving high accuracy with a relatively small amount of data.
This innovation could greatly improve the safety and reliability of future fusion power plants. As fusion machines scale up, controlling much higher-energy plasmas at all phases will be crucial. The new model is a step towards making fusion energy a viable power source.
