A fusion device at the University of Wisconsin–Madison made plasma for the first time. This is a big step towards creating a clean energy source without carbon emissions. The device is called WHAM (Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror). Scientists and engineers have been building and testing WHAM for four years.
It’s located at UW’s Physical Sciences Lab in Stoughton. The U.S. Department of Energy has supported this project. Professor Cary Forest says fusion energy could help reduce carbon in our energy sector. He calls this “first plasma” a crucial first step.
WHAM started in 2020 as a team effort between UW–Madison, MIT, and Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Now, WHAM will be run by UW–Madison and a new company called Realta Fusion Inc. This partnership will help advance fusion research at the university.
Continuing their efforts in fusion research, the collaboration between UW–Madison, MIT, and Commonwealth Fusion Systems made significant progress. With the successful creation of plasma, the WHAM fusion device marks a crucial first step towards achieving clean energy production. As the project transitions to the hands of UW–Madison and Realta Fusion Inc., the partnership is poised to further propel fusion research at the university and contribute to a greener energy.
With the potential to reduce carbon emissions in our energy sector, fusion energy holds great promise . The support from the U.S. Department of Energy, underscores the importance of this groundbreaking research. We can anticipate even greater advancements in the field of clean energy production.