May 1, 2023
To Track Turbulence in Tokamaks, Researchers Turn to Machine Learning
Machine learning techniques track turbulent blobs in millions of frames of video from tokamak experiments.
March 15, 2023
Resistance in Walls Can Cause Disruptive Energy Loss
Plasma simulations, theory, and comparison with experiment show that resistive wall tearing mode can cause energy loss in tokamaks.
February 2, 2023
Stuck in the Rough: How Aging Reactor Walls May Exhibit Lower Erosion
Roughening of fusion reactor wall surfaces over time may significantly reduce erosion rate predictions
January 12, 2023
Tokamak Experiments Provide Unique Data for Validating Spacecraft Heat Shield Ablation Models
Scientists used tokamak plasmas to study how heat shield materials protect spacecraft in the extreme conditions of atmospheric entry.
November 3, 2022
Predicting Explosive Energy Bursts in Compact Fusion Power Plants
New discovery allows scientists to better stabilize the plasma in future compact fusion reactors.
July 6, 2022
Scientists Capture a ‘Quantum Tug’ Between Neighboring Water Molecules
Ultrafast electrons shed light on the web of hydrogen bonds that gives water its strange properties, vital for many chemical and biological processes.
May 16, 2022
For Plasma with a Hot Core and Cool Edges, Super H-Mode Shows Promise
Leveraging peeling physics in current tokamaks improves fusion performance and integrates with exhaust solutions for future fusion reactors.
May 13, 2022
Researchers Stick Out Their Necks to Understand How Fusion Plasmas Fuel Up
The novel Lyman-alpha Measurement Apparatus (LLAMA) measures neutral particles in a fusion device and the fueling they provide.
April 29, 2022
The Source of the Aurora Borealis: Electrons Surfing on Alfvén Waves
Laboratory measurements give new insights into the physics of auroral electron acceleration by Alfvén waves.
March 30, 2022
Taming the Plasma Edge: Reducing Instabilities in Tokamaks
An operating mode called wide pedestal quiescent H-mode allows tokamak operation without detrimental edge instabilities.