CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: India has achieved an important technological milestone in nuclear fusion research. A new 82.6 GHz, 400 kW gyrotron has been successfully installed and commissioned in the SST-1 tokamak at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The device will support experiments aimed at heating extremely hot plasma and keeping it controlled for longer periods.
A gyrotron generates high-frequency microwave energy, which is delivered to the plasma inside the tokamak. This helps scientists raise the plasma temperature and study its stability. The new system offers experimental capabilities beyond the 42 GHz system used earlier.
IPR scientists have previously succeeded in raising the plasma temperature in SST-1 to more than 200 million degrees Celsius. This temperature is several times higher than the temperature at the core of the Sun. However, SST-1 is not yet a commercial fusion power plant that produces electricity, but an experimental facility for studying controlled nuclear fusion and plasma behaviour.
This technological upgrade is expected to strengthen experiments in India related to maintaining stable and extremely hot plasma for long durations. Fusion energy is viewed as a potential source of clean energy in the future.
Hashtags: #ScienceTechnology #Bhopal #Desksource #Gujarat #FusionResearch #NuclearFusion #Gyrotron #IPR #DeskSource #SST1Tokamak
