多国共建“人造太阳”达成重要里程碑

Core Insights - The ITER project, involving over 30 countries, has completed the construction of the world's largest and strongest pulsed superconducting magnet system, marking a significant milestone towards achieving controllable nuclear fusion energy [1][2] Group 1: Project Overview - ITER is a tokamak device designed to produce large-scale nuclear fusion reactions, simulating the fusion process that powers the sun, with funding from the EU, China, the US, Japan, South Korea, India, and Russia [2] - The fusion process involves combining hydrogen isotopes to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy, and unlike current nuclear power, fusion does not produce long-lived radioactive waste and uses fuel abundantly found in seawater [2] Group 2: Technical Achievements - The newly completed pulsed magnet system is referred to as the "electromagnetic heart" of the tokamak, essential for magnetic confinement fusion [2] - The central solenoid is a cylindrical magnet measuring 18 meters in height and 4.25 meters in diameter, with a magnetic field strength of 13 teslas, equivalent to 280,000 times the Earth's magnetic field, capable of lifting an aircraft carrier [2] - The total weight of the assembled pulsed magnet system will be close to 3,000 tons, with superconducting magnetic rings produced in collaboration with China [2] Group 3: International Collaboration - ITER is recognized as a model of international cooperation, having maintained its collaborative framework despite geopolitical changes, with thousands of scientists and engineers from multiple countries working together [3] - The project has evolved from its inception in 1985 to the current stage, with significant milestones achieved in construction and installation [3] Group 4: Commercialization Prospects - The fusion energy sector is experiencing a surge in private investment, with a growing number of companies pursuing fusion technology [4] - Predictions for the commercialization of fusion energy vary widely among private enterprises, with timelines ranging from 2028 to 2040 or beyond, reflecting differences in technological approaches and engineering challenges [4]