The most powerful magnet in history is ready to ship to ITER

According to representatives of General Atomic, specialists have completed the preparation of the central solenoid, for the production of which it took about 10 years for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) - the world's largest experimental thermonuclear reactor.

What constitutes the biggest magnet in history

The central solenoid is the largest of the ITER magnets, which will be realized from six separate blocks at once. In its fully finished form, it will be a product 18 meters high and 4.25 meters wide, and the magnet will weigh 1,000 tons.

In this case, the magnetic force of the created solenoid will be able to lift an object such as an aircraft carrier by as much as two meters. According to the engineers, the installation will be able to create a magnetic field of 13 Tesla, which is approximately 280,000 times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field.

In this case, the supporting structures will be able to withstand an impact that is more than twice the thrust force during takeoff of the spacecraft.

All of this design was made in one place, namely at the General Atomic Center for Magnetic Technology (San Diego, California). In addition, five add-on modules, including one spare, are also produced here and are in varying degrees of readiness.

The very role of the main solenoid in the entire ITER installation simply cannot be overestimated, because thanks to its operation, the heated plasma will be kept in a stable position.

What is ITER for and what is controlled thermonuclear fusion

Controlled thermonuclear reaction is a long-standing dream of mankind. After all, scientists have long wanted to recreate the processes taking place in stars when, as a result of a collision light nuclei as a result of synthesis, heavier nuclei are formed, and a huge amount of energy.

The ITER project itself is of great importance for all of humanity. Indeed, if successful, a completely safe and practically inexhaustible source of energy will be obtained. It is not for nothing that some experts call the construction of ITER the construction of the Sun on Earth.

At the moment, the entire installation is 75% ready, and the readiness of the main magnet made the ITER launch one step closer to the first launch.

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