British scientists have made a significant "breakthrough" in a bid for unlimited clean energy.
Oxford-based Tokamak Energy has marked a significant milestone in fusion energy development, as its researchers have successfully contained plasma heated to tens of millions of degrees within their ST40 device.
Newly released high-speed camera images have captured the extraordinary sight of plasma glowing with a distinctive pink hue, resembling a star confined within the spherical tokamak machine.
The breakthrough represents substantial progress towards harnessing fusion as a viable clean energy source.
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The Oxford facility created and maintained the extreme conditions necessary for fusion reactions.
The visual documentation provides researchers with unprecedented insights into plasma behaviour within the magnetic confinement system.
Remarkable footage revealed lithium being introduced into the superheated plasma, triggering a spectacular transformation in colour from red to green as the material becomes energised.
The visual display occurs as lithium traces the magnetic field pathways, illuminating the plasma's trajectory within the specially designed spherical chamber.
The plasma glows with a distinctive pink hue
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These magnetic fields serve a crucial function, containing the superheated matter that would otherwise be impossible to confine using conventional solid barriers due to the extreme temperatures involved.
ST40 employs compact magnetic coils to maintain stability at the plasma's periphery, enabling researchers to sustain the conditions required for potential fusion reactions.
The Oxford-based facility is currently undergoing a major £42million enhancement programme, conducted jointly with the United States Department of Energy and Britain's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
This substantial investment centres on lithium-related experiments aimed at progressing fusion research capabilities.
The upgrade represents a significant commitment to developing fusion technology as a future source of clean electricity generation.
Within the tokamak system, hydrogen isotopes, specifically deuterium and tritium, must reach temperatures exceeding those found in the sun's core to achieve fusion conditions.
When these fuels successfully fuse, they produce helium whilst releasing substantial energy that can be converted into electricity and heat.
Stuart White, representing Tokamak Energy, stated: "We're very proud to be operating one of the world's most advanced fusion energy machines at our Oxford HQ.
The discovery was made in the ST40 device
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"These new images are a striking look into the future, while providing invaluable data for our team today as we partner with governments and businesses to deliver clean, limitless and secure energy through fusion."
The visual capabilities prove particularly valuable for experimental analysis, according to physicist Laura Zhang from Tokamak Energy.
"The coloured camera is especially helpful for experiments like these.
"It helps us immediately identify whether the gaseous impurities we're introducing are radiating at the expected place, and whether lithium powders are penetrating to the plasma core," Miss Zhang explained.
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