Researchers work in the pre-assembly hall of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France, on Nov. 23.（PHOTO: XINHUA）

By TANG Zhexiao

The progress and future cooperation of nuclear fusion research was up for discussion among more than 20 global experts at a meeting related the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak（EAST), held in east China's Hefei last December.

Acknowledging China's remarkable progress in nuclear fusion, the experts hoped to deepen international cooperation for a cleaner future.

Located at the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) in Hefei, the EAST, or the China's "artificial sun," aims to create nuclear fusion like the sun via the use of abundant deuterium and tritium in the sea to provide clean energy.

Unlike fossil fuels such as coal and oil that are in limited supply and impact environmental, the "artificial sun" requires raw materials that are almost unlimited on Earth. Fusion energy is considered safe and clean, and therefore a promising long-term option for a sustainable, non-carbon emitting global energy for mankind.

Acceleration of fusion energy research

In early December, the JT-60SA fusion device jointly built by Japan and the EU operated successfully, marking a further step forward in the support research for the world's largest "artificial sun" - the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).

Scientists at EAST had broken the 100-second barrier for steady-state H-mode plasmas in 2017, according to ITER Newsline. On April 12, EAST achieved a steady-state high confinement plasma operation for 403 seconds, which is a key step toward the development of a fusion reactor.

Though China's fusion research started late compared with Europe, the U.S. and Russia, the progress and the dedication of the Chinese program was impressive, according to Tony Donné, Programme Manager at EUROfusion. China is really providing an example to the rest of the world, said Donné.

Working together- the only way forward

Mohamed Abdou, distinguished professor at UCLA, said that EAST has also contributed to the international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject ITER in southern France.

In 2021, a contract was signed in which ASIPP will donate HT-6M tokamak nuclear fusion reactor to the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology and assist its installation and operation, marking a major milestone in tokamak cooperation between the two sides.

Currently, China, India, Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea, EU and the U.S are engaged in a 35-year collaboration to build and operate the ITER.

"We can only make fusion work if we work together, "said Donné.