France: World's strongest magnet could lift aircraft carrier
Cadarache. The ITER research project has taken another step toward creating what could be the world's largest nuclear fusion facility. The international ITER team in southern France announced that all components for the magnet system, the heart of the project, have now been completed. This will create the most powerful magnet system in the world.
The goal of the research facility in Cadarache is to pave the way for future fusion power plants for commercial electricity generation. Nuclear fusion involves the fusion of hydrogen atoms, releasing large amounts of energy – similar to the way the sun and other stars work. However, the necessary heating of the hydrogen plasma to up to 150 million degrees Celsius also requires significant amounts of energy.
One of the central Iter magnets on a trailer
Source: Daniel Cole/AP/dpa
The newly added component is the sixth part of the magnet at the center of the giant, donut-shaped reactor. According to the operator, the complete central magnet is approximately 18 meters high and has a diameter of 4.25 meters. It has enough force to lift an aircraft carrier—and is currently the strongest single magnet in the world.
The central magnet will work together with several other magnets. The system is necessary, among other things, to maintain the hydrogen plasma—an extremely hot cloud of charged particles—in shape. The plasma is also heated to allow fusion to occur.
The experimental fusion reactor of the Iter project
Source: Daniel Cole/AP/dpa
However, it will likely be some time before the plant goes into operation. The planned start-up had previously been postponed to 2034.
The cost of ITER is estimated at more than 20 billion euros. In addition to the EU, the USA, Russia, China, India, Japan, and South Korea are also involved. According to previous information from the EU Commission, it will be the largest facility of its kind in the world.
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