On November 10, 2024, France - Researchers from Oxford University, collaborating with First Light Fusion, achieved a significant breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology. The team employed a 'meso-scale' gas launch system to fire aluminum projectiles at speeds of 1,789 km/h towards a target containing fusion fuel, initiating a reaction known as impact fusion.
This method could pave the way for sustainable nuclear fusion reactions, generating abundant energy without the negative side effects commonly associated with traditional energy sources. The World Nuclear Association reports that over 40% of global thermal pollution stems from the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation, contributing to severe weather risks.
Francisco Suzuki-Vidal from First Light stated, 'The progress made with these experiments is a crucial step towards achieving commercially viable nuclear fusion on a large scale.' Unlike fission, which is used in approximately 440 nuclear reactors worldwide, fusion processes do not produce long-lived radioactive waste, making them a safer alternative.
However, maintaining large-scale fusion reactions poses economic challenges. Amory Lovins from the Rocky Mountain Institute noted that renewable energy sources like wind and solar are currently more accessible than existing nuclear technologies. Despite this, global laboratory experiments in fusion are becoming increasingly frequent, with Chinese researchers developing an 'artificial sun' capable of controlling extreme temperatures using magnetic fields.
The First Light research enhances the science of impact fusion by utilizing amplifiers to reduce the required collision speed under increased pressure. The fuel also 'implodes much faster than the initial impact,' according to the laboratory. Visualizations shared by developers depict a coin-like projectile striking the fuel, triggering the reaction.
Lead scientist Alexander Rach emphasized the uniqueness of their facility's capabilities, stating, 'These are fantastic experiments leveraging the unique properties of our equipment.' The team employed a type of X-ray imaging to capture impact details, among other diagnostic methods, which will be compared with advanced numerical simulations as part of their ongoing research.