Nuclear fusion is the process that powers stars like our Sun. It happens when two light atomic nuclei come together to form a single, heavier nucleus, releasing a massive amount of energy in the process. If scientists can figure out how to create fusion reactions that produce more energy than they consume, it could lead to a reliable, zero-carbon energy source for the future.
One way that nuclear fusion is being explored is through the use of tokamaks, which are doughnut-shaped vessels that contain plasma. By using magnetic fields, physicists can control the plasma inside the tokamak. The largest tokamak in the world is currently under construction in France.
Recently, the École Spéciale de Lausanne created a 3D visualization of nuclear fusion inside a tokamak. This visualization is based on terabytes of data from tokamak simulations and plasma tests. It shows how particles move through the toroidal chamber of the tokamak, providing a detailed look at the process of nuclear fusion.
The interior of the tokamak in the visualization is an exact replica of EPFL’s variable-configuration tokamak (TCV). The computer scientists at the laboratory had to calculate the trajectories of thousands of moving particles at a high speed to create just a single image. They were even able to show the wear and tear on the graphite tiles lining the reactor walls, which are exposed to extremely high temperatures during the TCV test runs.
The graphite tiles inside the tokamak have to withstand temperatures exceeding 180 million degrees Fahrenheit (100 million Celsius). In the visualization, electrons are represented in red, protons in green, and the tokamak’s magnetic field in blue. The complexity of the physics behind the visualization process was highlighted by Paolo Ricci, the director of EPFL’s Swiss Plasma Center, who mentioned that even physicists have a hard time understanding all the different components involved in tokamaks.
These visualizations not only provide a fascinating look at the inner workings of a tokamak but also shed light on the potential of fusion energy as a clean and sustainable power source. The future of fusion energy looks promising, and these images play a vital role in showcasing the possibilities that lie ahead.
