Chinese "artificial sun" sets new record in milestone step toward fusion power generation

Members of division of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) Physics and Experimental Operations celebrate the success of an experiment in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 20, 2025. The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), dubbed China's "artificial sun," maintained a steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for a remarkable 1,066 seconds on Monday, setting a new world record and marking a breakthrough in the quest for fusion power generation. The duration of 1,000 seconds is considered a key step in fusion research. The breakthrough, achieved by the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, greatly improved the original world record of 403 seconds, which was also set by EAST in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

HEFEI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), dubbed China's "artificial sun," maintained a steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for a remarkable 1,066 seconds on Monday, setting a new world record and marking a breakthrough in the quest for fusion power generation.

The duration of 1,000 seconds is considered a key step in fusion research. The breakthrough, achieved by the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, greatly improved the original world record of 403 seconds, which was also set by EAST in 2023. ■

Gong Xianzu (4th, L), head of division of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) Physics and Experimental Operations, and other team members celebrate the success of an experiment in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 20, 2025. The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), dubbed China's "artificial sun," maintained a steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for a remarkable 1,066 seconds on Monday, setting a new world record and marking a breakthrough in the quest for fusion power generation.

The duration of 1,000 seconds is considered a key step in fusion research. The breakthrough, achieved by the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, greatly improved the original world record of 403 seconds, which was also set by EAST in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)