International Group of researchers has developed a new method for forecasting and monitoring the rotational temperatures of hydrogen molecules in thermal-core synthesis reactors.
In order to generate electricity, hydrogen plasma, which constitutes the majority of the Sun’s interior, can be contained in a magnetic field through the fusion process. However, this process is not without challenges.
One of the major issues with plasma is its ability to damage the walls of large-scale devices like Tokamaki reactors, which contain plasma at temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius. To cool the plasma, scientists introduce hydrogen and inert gases, which aid in the cooling process through radiation and recombination.
For a long time, optimizing the recombination process has been a challenge. However, a team from the University of Kyoto recently proposed a model that explains the rotational temperatures measured in three different experimental settings in Japan and the USA.
“In our model, we focused on assessing the rotational temperatures at low energy levels, which allowed us to explain the measurement results from different devices,” said Nao Yoneda, the study’s author from the Faculty of Engineering at Kyoto University.
The ability to predict and control the rotational temperature of the plasma has enabled scientists to minimize the heat flow and optimize the operation of confluence devices. “We still need to understand the mechanisms behind the rotational and vibration excitation of hydrogen,” added Yoneda. “But we are pleased that our model has also been able to reproduce the measured rotational temperatures mentioned in the literature.”