The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) is concerned with investigating the principles underlying a power plant, which – like the sun – will produce energy from the fusion of light atomic nuclei.
Two IPP papers in the journal Physical Review Letters explain for the first time, from first principles, what happens in the extremely thin edge layer of a fusion plasma. In doing so, they provide a foundation for the design of future reactors.
IPP, KIT, the University of Stuttgart and Thales are developing 2-megawatt gyrotrons and methods for the reliable transmission of microwave beams of this intensity. The new technology will be used in the Wendelstein 7-X fusion experiment and lays the foundations for future fusion power plants. The German Federal Ministry of Research is funding the project with 6 million euros.
Materials for future fusion power plants are to be developed at the Garching Research Campus. As part of a new federal programme, several research groups are pooling their expertise.
The record funding marks an important milestone for Alpha, a demonstration facility intended to be built in Germany as a precursor to a fusion power plant.
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