（文章来源：人民日报） 本报合肥电 （记者徐靖）近日，记者从中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院等离子体物理研究所获悉：被 称为"人造太阳"的全超导托卡马克核聚变实验装置（EAST）在物理实验中取得重要成果，研究团队证 实了托卡马克密度自由区的存在，相关研究成果发表在《科学进展》期刊上。 托卡马克装置是一种利用磁约束来实现受控核聚变的环形装置，犹如一个螺旋形"磁跑道"，锁住高温等 离子体，达到核聚变目的。在本项工作中，研究团队发展了边界等离子体与壁相互作用自组织 （PWSO）理论模型，指出了边界辐射在密度极限触发中的关键作用，解析出了辐射不稳定性边界；揭 示了密度极限的触发机理，预测了密度极限之外的密度自由区。实验结果与PWSO理论预测高度吻合， 首次证实了托卡马克密度自由区的存在。 ...

Core Viewpoint - The University of Michigan has developed the world's most powerful laser device, named ZEUS, with a peak power of 2 petawatts (PW), which is capable of releasing energy equivalent to over 100 times the total power output of all global power plants [1][3][24] Group 1: Laser Technology and Capabilities - ZEUS laser can release energy in extremely short bursts (on the order of femtoseconds), achieving a power density close to 10²² watts per square centimeter [5][6] - The system can create plasma storms and simulate conditions near black holes, pushing the boundaries of human understanding of energy and vacuum [8][12] - The laser's primary goal is to explore strong-field quantum electrodynamics (QED), allowing for the observation of phenomena that were previously nearly impossible to detect [8][10] Group 2: Applications and Future Prospects - ZEUS aims to revolutionize particle acceleration, potentially replacing traditional large-scale accelerators with compact plasma wave acceleration techniques [10] - The ultimate goal includes using the laser for controlled nuclear fusion, providing a key to breakthroughs in energy generation [10][12] - Future plans for ZEUS involve simulating extreme physical environments from the early universe, such as gamma-ray bursts and quark plasma [12][24] Group 3: Technical Specifications and Funding - The ZEUS system is designed using chirped pulse amplification (CPA) technology, which allows for significant power output without damaging the equipment [14][16] - The project has received over $180 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and is considered a national strategic scientific facility [16] - The core laser chamber is compact, comparable to a classroom, but is heavily fortified to maintain operational integrity [16][19]