Fusion energy research advances with new plasma methods and AI chips

Researchers are advancing fusion energy technology through two distinct breakthroughs in plasma management and real-time monitoring.

Physicists at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have identified a potential shift in how fusion reactions are initiated. For decades, the standard approach has been to increase plasma density before applying heat. However, new calculations published in Physical Review Letters suggest that reversing this sequence—heating the plasma before compression—may provide a more efficient path to sustaining a self-reinforcing reaction. This finding challenges the long-standing reliance on the traditional application of the Lawson criterion.

In a separate development, a team involving Brookhaven National Laboratory, Great Sky, and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory has developed a brain-like computer chip designed to monitor fusion plasma. Operating at cryogenic temperatures using superconducting circuits that mimic human neurons, the chip can analyze data at one million samples per second. During testing with the DIII-D tokamak, the hardware successfully detected unusual plasma behavior and predicted potential disruptions that could damage a reactor, offering a high-speed, energy-efficient alternative to traditional silicon-based processors.