Southwestern Institute of Physics, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), has made a breakthrough in nuclear fusion research. On March 28, the institute announced that its new-generation "artificial sun" HL-3 reached an atomic nucleus temperature of 117 million degrees Celsius and an electron temperature of 160 million degrees Celsius for the first time, and the comprehensive parameters of its fusion triple product rose significantly, marking the advancement of China's fusion research into the combustion experiment stage.

The latest experiments with the HL-3 have set multiple national records and yielded groundbreaking, innovative and advanced results in fusion energy development.

Independently developing and deploying multiple types of world-class core equipment for nuclear fusion research

• A self-developed high-power microwave gyrotron: Capable of delivering a maximum injection power of 2.5 MW, it can achieve precise control over the stable formation of the electron internal transport barrier, allowing the electron temperature to reach 160 million degrees Celsius.

• Two high-power neutral beam injection heating systems (for increasing atomic nucleus temperature) with independent intellectual property rights: Each beam can deliver a maximum power of 7 MW, placing China among the world's leading nations in fusion research.

• Breakthroughs in high-voltage power supply technologies: The self-developed high-voltage power supply achieves a maximum DC output of 120 kV with an accuracy higher than one percent, making China at the forefront of international fusion technology.

Mastering operational strategies for increasing atomic nucleus temperature

The HL-3 has made innovative exploration of core energy confinement approaches, successfully suppressed the instability of core magnet fluid that hinders the increase of atomic nucleus temperature, and overcome key challenges in current and density profile control. It was the first time for China to achieve repetitive discharges with the atomic nucleus temperature exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius, confirming the country's leading position in fusion technology.

Efficiently and precisely measuring core temperatures reaching a hundred million degrees Celsius and plasma density in nuclear fusion reactors

The HL-3, which is equipped with core technologies like compact Thomson scattering ploychromators and the world's first set of triple grating precision spectrometer with twice the accuracy of international counterparts, has systematically overcome key technical barriers in fusion diagnostics such as high spatial-temporal resolution, strong resistance to radiation interference, and millisecond-level dynamic response. Some of these critical technologies have been added to the International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA) joint diagnostic experiment project.

Extensive application of key "central nervous system"

The self-developed fusion device control system (CODIS) has been applied in fusion facilities at over ten research institutes and universities worldwide. This cutting-edge technology has provided a robust and powerful support to future fusion reactors.

Innovative core technologies go global and shape international standards

China has developed and upgraded the supersonic molecular beam fusion fueling technology, and further advanced original vector and hybrid injection methods to ensure precise control for high-parameter fusion operations. Relevant technologies have been enshrined into the ISO standards.