Fusion Energy
Fusion is set to become a vital energy source in the future. As occurs in the Sun and other stars, energy is released when two hydrogen nuclei fuse to form one helium atom. Several countries are prioritising the construction of fusion power plants, with various startup companies pursuing this goal. European XFEL offers opportunities for fundamental research to improve our understanding of fusion-related processes and increase the efficiency of the technology.
There are two distinct concepts for future fusion power plants: magnetic confinement fusion and inertial confinement fusion. Magnetic confinement fusion involves trapping a hot plasma in a magnetic field, whereas inertial fusion involves irradiating spherical fuel targets with high-intensity lasers. The development of both techniques benefits from X-ray diagnostics at European XFEL.
For instance, researchers at the HED-HIBEF (High Energy Density) instrument have contributed to fusion research by investigating extreme states of matter with the European XFEL’s X-ray pulses. Two high-power lasers, which are among the most powerful in Europe, are used to generate these states of matter.
The researchers for instance used these laser pulses to compress carbon samples, liquefying the material for a billionth of a second. This has enabled them to study liquid carbon for the first time; it is otherwise believed to exist only inside planets. They have also found evidence that it rains diamonds inside exoplanets. These experiments help to advance inertial confinement fusion research, because carbon is used in the outer shell of the capsule which holds the hydrogen, and lasers will compress this carbon to very high pressures.
Another chemical element that has been successfully studied under extreme conditions by researchers at European XFEL is copper, which was used to create warm, dense matter. WDM is an intermediate state between solids and plasma, that is expected inside some planets or is produced during inertial fusion experiments. The researchers looked at the opacity of the material – how much radiation energy is absorbed – under strong XFEL irradiation. Gaining a better understanding of how materials behave under such conditions can have significant impact on the efficiency of inertial fusion reactors.
Future experiments at European XFEL will provide more detailed insights into the processes that occur when matter approaches fusion conditions. This will require innovations that have recently been implemented like the development of a new electron source, superconducting undulators, and improved detection devices. Further developments are planned for the coming years, including the construction of a new research instrument, equipped with even more powerful lasers. This facility upgrade will offer researchers worldwide unparalleled conditions for advancing fusion research in science and industry.