Last week our class ventured into Cambridge to visit MIT’s Plasma Fusion Center. We were lucky enough to even have a tour of where the action happens. Before this tour occurred however we sat in a classroom and were given a brief explanation of how plasma fusion works, and what technology and tools were needed to create this plasma. We also discussed how current energy generates from fossil fuels that are underground and burn we have to find or create a better more sustainable alternative. We are running out of fossil fuels, and they are causing dangerous greenhouse gases to penetrate the atmosphere thereby remaining catalysts for global warming. Scientists around the world are examining other methods such as solar energy, fission, wind energy, and fusion. At MIT, they are working hard to find a way to generate enough energy through plasma fusion to power the world. With fusion, they heat water until it becomes plasma, and they harness it in a donut shaped magnetic field in order to contain the ions and electrons. According to our student lecture before the tour, plasma is a “sea of negatively charged electrons and positively charged neutrons”, but the main problem is being able to contain it energy, as it’s incredibly hot. As we began touring their plasma center, we saw their “C-Mod”, which is a fusion tokomak that they’re able to harness the plasma with. They still haven’t figured out how to generate enough plasma to fuel electricity with, but every day they’re a step closer to their goals. It’s important they continue to receive government funding as well as support from the community as they strive to create positive sustainable change. Below are a few images from our trip, I hope you enjoy them!
Below is an image of the control room, where their results are displayed on many monitors.
This next image is what’s used to hold down a space ship before it launches. MIT uses many of these strong pieces to hold C-Mod in place.
And finally, C-Mod itself!
Thanks for reading!