欧洲聚变专家缘何“向东看”？

Core Viewpoint - Nuclear fusion energy is regarded as the ultimate goal for clean energy, often referred to as "artificial sun," with increasing international collaboration, particularly between Europe and China, as the U.S. faces technical and funding challenges [1][3]. Group 1: International Collaboration - The "International Scientific Program on Burning Plasma" initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Hefei marks a significant step in global cooperation for fusion energy research [3]. - A declaration called the "Hefei Fusion Declaration" was signed by researchers from multiple European countries, emphasizing their commitment to align their efforts with China's timeline for sustainable nuclear fusion [3]. Group 2: Project Development - The BEST (Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak) project in Hefei is set to be completed by 2027, aiming to conduct experiments that validate its long-pulse steady-state operation capability, targeting fusion power output between 20 megawatts and 200 megawatts [3]. - The EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) facility in Hefei has achieved multiple breakthroughs, setting world records for high-temperature plasma confinement time, thus providing critical data for global fusion research [5]. Group 3: China's Position in Fusion Research - China's robust engineering capabilities, open collaboration spirit, and long-term investment have positioned it as a potential catalyst in making nuclear fusion a reality, attracting the attention of top European experts [5]. - The competition in nuclear fusion research is seen as a contest of organizational efficiency and strategic foresight, with China currently demonstrating strong momentum in leading this race [5].