20日下午举行的浦江创新论坛开幕式后，中国国际核聚变能源计划执行中心原主任、国际热核聚变实验 堆（ITER）副总干事罗德隆接受包括第一财经在内的记者采访时说，虽然已有一些资本进入核聚变领 域，但目前距离商业化还有一段距离。 （文章来源：第一财经） 罗德隆介绍，正在稳步推进的国际热核聚变实验堆是全球规模最大的核聚变实验装置，但它本身也发不 了电，是一个科学研究的实验室，建成之后还要做十到二十年的实验，不断提高大家对科学和技术成熟 度的认知。 ...

Core Insights - The article draws a parallel between the historical achievement of laying the transatlantic cable and the current pursuit of controlled nuclear fusion, highlighting the strategic vision and determination required in both endeavors [9][10]. Historical Context - In 1854, an American businessman named Field aimed to lay a transatlantic cable, which was deemed impossible due to the technological limitations of the time [3][4]. - After multiple failed attempts, including a significant setback in 1865, Field finally succeeded in 1866, enabling communication between the UK and the US, which was celebrated as a monumental achievement [5][6][7]. Current Industry Focus - Controlled nuclear fusion is emerging as a critical area of competition among nations, with significant investments and research efforts directed towards making it a viable energy source [10][11]. - The raw materials for nuclear fusion, such as deuterium and tritium, are abundant, with deuterium found in seawater, making it a potentially limitless energy source [12]. Investment and Development - The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in France represents a significant global effort in nuclear fusion research, with various countries, including China, actively participating [14]. - Chinese private enterprises, such as New Hope Group, are increasingly involved in nuclear fusion projects, marking a shift from state-dominated initiatives to private sector participation [19][21]. Technological Milestones - New Hope Group's "Xuanlong-50U" device achieved its first plasma discharge in January 2024, marking a significant step in the development of controlled nuclear fusion technology [21]. - The project is notable for being the first privately initiated controlled nuclear fusion project in China, focusing on the hydrogen-boron fusion route, which is less common than the deuterium-tritium approach [21][22]. Challenges Ahead - The path to achieving practical nuclear fusion is fraught with challenges, including the need for extremely high temperatures and effective plasma confinement [31]. - The hydrogen-boron fusion route presents additional difficulties, requiring temperatures around 3 billion degrees Celsius, which have never been achieved [31]. Market Dynamics - The global investment landscape for nuclear fusion has seen a surge, with approximately $6.5 billion invested in commercial fusion startups over the past five years, indicating a growing interest from private capital [41]. - The flexibility and rapid decision-making capabilities of private enterprises may lead to faster advancements in nuclear fusion technology compared to government-led initiatives [42]. Future Outlook - The article concludes that while significant progress has been made, the journey towards commercial nuclear fusion is still in its early stages, with many hurdles to overcome before it can become a practical energy source [46].

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]

Core Points - The ITER project, involving over 30 countries, has achieved a significant milestone by completing the construction of the world's largest and strongest pulsed superconducting magnet system, marking a crucial step towards controllable nuclear fusion energy [1][2] - ITER aims to simulate the nuclear fusion process of the sun, exploring the commercial viability of fusion technology, with a focus on using hydrogen isotopes to produce helium and release vast amounts of energy [1][2] Group 1: Technical Achievements - The newly completed pulsed magnet system is referred to as the "electromagnetic heart" of the tokamak device, essential for magnetic confinement fusion [2][3] - The central solenoid of the magnet system is 18 meters tall and 4.25 meters in diameter, with a magnetic field strength of 13 teslas, capable of lifting an aircraft carrier [2] - The entire pulsed magnet system will weigh nearly 3,000 tons, showcasing the scale and complexity of the project [2] Group 2: Global Collaboration - ITER is recognized as a model of international cooperation, having maintained its collaborative framework despite geopolitical changes, involving contributions from the EU, China, the US, Japan, South Korea, India, and Russia [3][4] - The project has seen thousands of scientists and engineers from hundreds of factories across three continents working together, with over 100,000 kilometers of superconducting wire produced by nine factories in six countries [3][4] Group 3: Commercial Prospects - The past five years have seen a surge in private investment in fusion energy research, with ITER encouraging collaboration between member states and the private sector to accelerate the realization of fusion energy [4][5] - Predictions for the commercialization of fusion energy vary widely among private sector representatives, ranging from 2028 to 2040 or even longer, due to differing technological pathways and foundational engineering challenges [4][5]

Core Insights - The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly empowering fusion research, aiming to reshape the ecosystem of nuclear fusion studies through deep collaboration among academia, industry, and policy [1][4] - Nuclear fusion, often referred to as the "artificial sun," simulates the energy release mechanism of the sun, requiring extreme conditions to fuse light atomic nuclei into heavier ones, thus providing a virtually limitless energy source [1][2] Group 1: Current Developments in Fusion Research - The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project involves resources from 35 countries globally, while China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) collaborates with ITER, creating an innovative network covering approximately 70 countries and over 150 research institutions [2] - China's "Circulation Three" project is set to open for international collaboration by the end of 2023, with the first round of joint experiments in 2024 attracting participation from 17 global institutions, research institutes, and universities [2] Group 2: AI's Role in Fusion Research - AI has demonstrated significant advantages in handling complex data related to nuclear fusion, enabling precise predictions and intelligent control, transforming plasma data analysis from "hours of modeling" to "milliseconds for solutions" [3] - The introduction of AI allows for 300 milliseconds of advance prediction, effectively preventing interruptions in fusion reactions due to plasma instability, a feat traditional commercial software cannot achieve [3] - AI models can integrate specialized knowledge, expert experience, and experimental records, potentially leading to the establishment of a cross-device database, fundamentally revolutionizing fusion research paradigms [3] Group 3: Future Implications - The deepening integration of AI and fusion research is expected to pave the way for an open-source ecosystem, breaking down data barriers and enhancing resource integration to lower research and development risks [3] - This collaboration will also reduce the marginal costs of knowledge integration, promoting cross-disciplinary cooperation and accelerating the fusion research process [3][4] - The combination of AI and nuclear fusion represents a pinnacle challenge in science and engineering, serving as a test of human collaborative intelligence [3][4]