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Japan's JT-60 Tokamak Sets New Plasma Record

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the road-to-the-fusion-reactor dept.

Dipster writes "The Japan Atomic Energy Agency has announced that its JT-60 Tokamak has almost doubled the previous record for sustained plasma production, which is now sits at 28.6 seconds. It is believed that once 400 seconds can be achieved, a sustained nuclear fusion reaction will be possible. While 28.6 seconds is a long way from 400, it raises hopes for what will be possible from the ITER reactor, expected to be finished in 2016."

5 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. Almost there... still by DieByWire · · Score: 4, Funny
    While 28.6 seconds is a long way from 400...

    Let's see, 400 seconds - 28.6 seconds .... works out to about 50 years. Still.

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    1. Re:Almost there... still by enitime · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Let's see, 400 seconds - 28.6 seconds .... works out to about 50 years." Wow, I've seen some bad math before but jeez... 400 seconds - 28.6 seconds works out to 371.4 seconds

  2. Only 10 years till FUSION! by ookabooka · · Score: 3, Funny

    "...it raises hopes for what will be possible from the ITER reactor, expected to be finished in 2016."

    Look at that, it'll be completed in exactly 10 years. Finally, this time 10 years means 10 years.

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  3. Subject? by zaguar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Was I the only one who thought that it was for a 60-inch plasma screen?

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  4. Re:How long by Solra+Bizna · · Score: 3, Funny

    If the fusion reaction containment fails, the reaction quickly stops, without serious damage to the reactor and without any abnormal leakage of radioactive material. A fusion reactor can't "melt down".

    Unfortunately, like most reactors, it will collapse into a pile of rubble after exactly 50 years. Which is why I prefer to use hydroelectric power...

    Oh, wait, we were talking about Sim City, right?

    -:sigma.SB

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