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IPR, Gujarat Commissions India’s First Spherical Tokamak
The Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gujarat commissions India’s first spherical tokamak and initiates plasma experimentation.
India’s First Spherical Tokamak:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Tokamak | A tokamak is a device that confines extremely hot plasma through the use of magnetic fields, enabling the conditions necessary for nuclear fusion. |
| Rationale for Magnetic Confinement | At fusion temperatures, matter exists in the plasma state and cannot be contained by conventional material walls, therefore, powerful magnetic fields are employed to confine and control the plasma. |
| Global Spherical Tokamak Research | India participates in a broader international research initiative on spherical tokamaks. |
| Notable International Examples | Notable international examples comprise: United Kingdom MAST-U (Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak Upgrade), ST40 (Tokamak Energy), and STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production); United States NSTX-U (National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade); Japan QUEST (Q-shu University Experiment with Steady-State Spherical Tokamak). |
| Additional Countries with Active Programmes | Additional countries with active spherical tokamak programs comprise China, South Korea, Russia, Italy, and Spain. |
| Benefits | Benefits comprise large-scale electricity generation on a continuous basis, low-carbon energy, absence of chain reaction, inherent safety (it ceases automatically if extreme conditions are disrupted), potential energy security, and technological advancement in plasma physics, superconducting magnets, advanced materials, and engineering. |