U.S. Makes Huge Breakthrough in Nuclear Fusion Research by Managing to Confine Plasma in a Magnetic Mirror

The University of Wisconsin has taken the first step towards creating clean, carbon-free energy through low-cost nuclear fusion by generating plasma with an incredibly strong magnetic field in a compact device.

WHAM’s first plasma. The University of Wisconsin in Madison has been working on a fusion power device called WHAM (Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror) for the past four years.

On July 15, the WHAM team successfully generated and maintained hydrogen plasma using the strongest magnetic field ever created in such a device.

More from Xataka On

The Launch of the Largest Nuclear Fusion Reactor on the Planet Is Being Delayed by a Decade. This Is Why

By using high-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnets, WHAM was able to produce a magnetic field of 17 Tesla, which is twice as intense as MRI scanners, setting a new record in plasma confinement.

Confined in a magnetic mirror. WHAM is still an experimental device that undergraduate and graduate students use in practical experiments. However, it can confine charged plasma particles using a method called “magnetic mirror.” This concept was developed in the 1980s, but at that time, technological limitations prevented the control of the plasma inside the device.

Now, the WHAM experiment has brought the concept back thanks to advances in superconductor technology, particularly in the development of HTS magnets.

The magnetic mirror works by using two powerful magnets at each end of a cylindrical chamber. These magnets compress the plasma and cause hydrogen ions to bounce back and forth, increasing the chances of fusion reactions as the ions collide.

New possibilities for commercial fusion. WHAM operates as a public-private partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Realta Fusion, a company founded to commercialize magnetic mirror fusion. The project has received significant investment, including more than $10 million from the Department of Energy.

Its success could pave the way for more compact and potentially less expensive fusion systems capable of producing carbon-free heat and electricity.

Many issues yet to be resolved. However, many challenges remain to demonstrate that magnetic mirror fusion is a viable technology. The WHAM team is currently focused on addressing the stability of the plasma generated, its extended confinement, and the overall efficiency of the device.

The forthcoming findings will be crucial in determining the feasibility of magnetic mirror fusion as a practical energy source. Ultimately, the potential for energy production and for combating climate change is enormous.

This article was written by Matías S. Zavia and originally published in Spanish on Xataka.

Image | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Related | The Largest Nuclear Fusion Project Failed Before It Was Ever Turned On. ITER Will Need a Decade to Implement Changes