German Stellarator Sets New Fusion Record

The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator fusion reactor in Greifswald, Germany, has achieved a new world record for the triple product in long plasma discharges, lasting 43 seconds. The triple product, a key factor in fusion, considers plasma density, ion temperature, and energy confinement time. This achievement utilized a novel pellet injector from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, precisely coordinating heating and fuel injection. While tokamaks still hold the record for short-duration discharges, this milestone demonstrates the stellarator's progress towards power plant applications, surpassing JET in longer discharge times despite a smaller plasma volume. This represents a significant step towards sustainable fusion energy.