China was able to ignite the "artificial sun" for 403 seconds, almost four times the previous world record

Chinese Scientists Continue to Work on 'Artificial Sun'.Experimental Advanced

Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) was able to set a new world record for the duration of high-temperature plasma support.

What is known

"Artificial sun" of China in the framework of the next test was able to work for 403 seconds. The previous world record was only 101 seconds.

Alas, Chinese experts are not eagerdisclose the data of their experiments. Experts have so far kept both the mode of operation of the reactor and the temperature reached in secret. The type of plasma is also not specified.

It is generally accepted that scientists were able to warm upelectrons in plasma up to a temperature of 120 million degrees Celsius. It was this bar that was taken when the reactor held the temperature for 101 seconds. Previously, EAST held electron plasma heated to 70 million degrees Celsius and 160 million degrees Celsius for 1056 and 20 seconds, respectively.

Ion Plasma Containment World Recordbelongs to the South Korean reactor KSTAR - 100 million degrees Celsius for 30 seconds. Note that the heating of ions in plasma is a necessary condition for starting a thermonuclear fusion reaction.

To do this, the temperature of the ion plasma must exceed 100 million degrees Celsius. Since ions are heavier than electrons, it is necessary to spend almost 100% more energy to heat them up.