The experimental nuclear fusion device known as SMART, has successfully generated its first tokamak plasma, bringing the global quest for sustainable, virtually limitless energy a step closer.
SMART (SMall Aspect Ratio Tokamak) is being put together at the University of Seville in Spain as part of an international research project. Late last year, a series of papers described the physics and engineering behind the unique reactor.
Now, the researchers have marked another milestone with its first plasma with results described in a paper published in the journal Nuclear Fusion.
“This is an important achievement for the entire team as we are now entering the operational phase of SMART,” says principal investigator Manuel García Muñoz. “The SMART approach is a potential game changer with attractive fusion performance and power handling for future compact fusion reactors. We have exciting times ahead.”
Tokamaks are a common type of nuclear fusion machine. The doughnut-shaped device confines the plasma using magnetic fields.
SMART’s novel approach is in the shape of the magnetically confined plasma generated in the tokamak. The cross-section of the plasma is a capital letter D.
Normally, the straight edge of the D faces the centre of the doughnut. This is called “positive triangularity”. SMART, however, will be the first reactor operating at nuclear fusion temperatures with a tokamak with predominantly “negative triangularity” where the curved part of the cross-section faces the centre.
Negative triangularity leads to enhanced performance because it stops particles and energy being expelled from the plasma which might damage the tokamak wall.
“We were all very excited to see the first magnetically confined plasma and are looking forward to exploiting the capabilities of the SMART device together with the international scientific community,” says co-principal investigator Prof. Eleonora Viezzer.
“SMART has awoken great interest worldwide.”
Update: A reader pointed out an error when we described the tokomak as the first to show negative triangularity. This error has been fixed.