Exploring the Source of Stars and Planets in a Plasma Physics Laboratory
A new method for verifying a widely held but unproven theoretical explanation of the formation of stars and planets has been proposed by researchers at…
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Unexpected Electrical Current Discovered That Could Stabilize Fusion Reactions – Bringing the Fusion Energy That Drives the Sun to Earth
Electric current is everywhere, from powering homes to controlling the plasma that fuels fusion reactions to possibly giving rise to vast cosmic magnetic fields. Now,…
Fusion Power Breakthrough: New Method for Eliminating Damaging Heat Bursts in Toroidal Tokamaks
Picture an airplane that can only climb to one or two altitudes after taking off. That limitation would be similar to the plight facing scientists…
Physicists New Pulsed RF Control Method for Improving the Performance of Fusion Reactions
Scientists have found a novel way to prevent pesky magnetic bubbles in plasma from interfering with fusion reactions – delivering a potential way to improve…
While Birds Chirp, Plasma Shouldn’t: New Plasma Physics Insight Advances the Development of Fusion Energy
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have furthered understanding of a barrier that can prevent doughnut-shaped fusion facilities…
Abstract Mathematical Noodling Leads to New Insights Into an Old Fusion Problem
A challenge to creating fusion energy on Earth is trapping the charged gas known as plasma that fuels fusion reactions within a strong magnetic field…
Physics of Blobs: Surprise Link Found to Edge Turbulence in Plasma Fusion Reactors
Blobs can wreak havoc in plasma required for fusion reactions. This bubble-like turbulence swells up at the edge of fusion plasmas and drains heat from…
New Understanding of Collision-Less Plasma Shock Waves, Earth’s Interaction With the Solar Wind
As the Earth orbits the sun, it plows through a stream of fast-moving particles that can interfere with satellites and global positioning systems. Now, a…
Safe, Clean and Limitless Energy: A Landmark Plan for Realizing Fusion Power
Creating and controlling on Earth the fusion energy that powers the sun and stars is a key goal of scientists around the world. Production of…
Fusion Energy Solution May Come From Permanent Magnets Like Those on Refrigerator Doors – But Far Stronger
Permanent magnets akin to those used on refrigerators could speed the development of fusion energy – the same energy produced by the sun and stars….
Cutting-Edge W7-X Nuclear Fusion Device Overcomes Obstacles
A key hurdle facing fusion devices called stellarators — twisty facilities that seek to harness on Earth the fusion reactions that power the sun and…
Fusion Researchers Find Safer, More Effective Way to Create a Star on Earth
A major issue with operating ring-shaped fusion facilities known as tokamaks is keeping the plasma that fuels fusion reactions free of impurities that could reduce…
Blowing Bubbles: New Way to Launch and Drive Current in Fusion Plasmas Confirmed
An obstacle to generating fusion reactions inside facilities called tokamaks is that producing the current in plasma that helps create confining magnetic fields happens in…
New Technique Streamlines Design of Intricate Fusion Devices
Stellarators, twisty machines that house fusion reactions, rely on complex magnetic coils that are challenging to design and build. Now, a physicist at the U.S….