The experiment, which consumed more energy to create the fusion reaction than the energy released by it, reportedly validates design choices that have been made for an even bigger fusion reactor now being constructed in France. But a sustained fusion event of this kind is a major success, European media outlets reported.
A consortium of world governments, including from European Union member states, the United States, China and Russia, supports the ITER facility in southern France.
The JET lab has been pioneering this fusion approach for nearly 40 years. And for the past 10 years, it has been configured to replicate the anticipated ITER set-up.
Nuclear fusion works on the principle that energy can be released by forcing together atomic nuclei rather than by splitting them (fission). It is the process that powers the stars. Operating future power plants based on fusion would produce no greenhouse gases and only small amounts of short-lived radioactive waste.
Ultimately, the process would be used to drive steam turbines to generate electricity.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)