France has upped the ante in the quest for fusion power by maintaining a plasma reaction for over 22 minutes – a new record. The milestone was reached on February 12 at the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) WEST Tokamak reactor.
Doesn’t sound that impressive when Wendelstein 7-X achieved 17 minutes of plasma in 2021.
I can’t find a reference to that but China did 17 minutes in January this year. I think you’re confusing the announcement that they increased power by 17x while maintaining plasma.
This test was 20 minutes at a higher power setting without being incredibly destructive, that’s their milestone.
Yes but 22 minutes is longer than 17 minutes
Think of it like a pizza oven
How well done is your pizza?
at temperatures that exceed the surface of the sun, there’s only one setting.
carbonized.
Agreed. Plus, when talking about that reactor you get to say “stellarator”, which is always fun.