[Science World] Rekindled Debate on Nuclear Fusion

[Asia Economy] The principle behind the Sun’s energy generation is nuclear fusion. That is why human-made nuclear fusion facilities are commonly called ‘artificial suns.’ Conventional nuclear power generation uses a ‘nuclear fission’ method, whereas nuclear fusion is the opposite. Many expect the actual efficiency to be three to four times that of nuclear power generation. In other words, if electricity can be generated using nuclear fusion technology, the number of power plants could be reduced to less than one-third. Moreover, since almost no nuclear waste is produced and the risk of accidents is low, it is gaining attention as a ‘future clean energy.’ Countries around the world are competing fiercely to secure this technology, but practical application still requires several decades. Recently, the United States announced success in inducing nuclear fusion using ‘laser beams.’ Although not the first time, this time they surpassed the ‘critical point’ where the energy generated exceeds the energy input. This is called nuclear fusion ‘ignition.’

Scientific progress also brings controversy and concerns. South Korea is investing heavily but does not adopt the same method as the U.S. There are worries that ‘if the U.S. has achieved this result, all the research we have done so far might have been in vain.’ South Korea uses a method called ‘Tokamak.’ It induces nuclear fusion reactions inside a donut-shaped cylinder using superconducting magnets.

Both methods have pros and cons. The laser method has a simple structure and seems to allow rapid practical application, but various additional studies on long-term operation are needed. In this field, our method has significant advantages. It is a method that accelerates atomic nuclei to induce nuclear fusion through long-term operation from the start. South Korea belongs to the leading group in this field. It possesses the world-class nuclear fusion experimental reactor KSTAR and participates in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, jointly established by seven advanced countries. If it will still take several decades, there is no need to be swayed by every step others take. For now, it is more important to quietly and tirelessly walk ‘our own path.’

Jeon Seung-min, Science and Technology Writer

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