科学与健康｜聚变能研发进入新阶段，“人造太阳”离我们有多远？

Core Insights - The concept of creating a "man-made sun" for limitless clean energy is a significant human aspiration, but achieving controlled nuclear fusion remains a complex challenge due to the extreme conditions required for fusion reactions [2][3]. Group 1: Current State of Fusion Energy Research - Global fusion energy research has entered a new phase characterized by parallel pathways and rapid iterations, with two main technical routes: magnetic confinement and inertial confinement [4]. - The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is the largest global fusion research project, aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of magnetic confinement fusion by 2040 to 2050 [4]. - Several large tokamak experimental devices have achieved the harsh conditions necessary for fusion reactions, but significant scientific and engineering challenges remain in improving fusion power gain and maintaining stable plasma [4]. Group 2: China's Role in Fusion Energy Development - China is actively advancing international cooperation in fusion energy, with the establishment of a fusion energy research and training collaboration center in Chengdu, enhancing its global influence in this field [6]. - The China National Nuclear Corporation is developing fusion reactors in a phased approach, with plans to conduct burning plasma experiments around 2027 and subsequently build demonstration and commercial reactors [5]. - Significant milestones in China's fusion research include achieving temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius in the "Chinese Circulation No. 3" project and setting a world record for high-quality burning in the EAST facility [6].