China's ENN Claims Hydrogen-Boron Fusion First On Compact Tokamak

A Chinese company says it has achieved hydrogen-boron fusion reactions on its own compact tokamak device, a development described as a “significant and valuable” advance in neutron-free magnetic confinement fusion research.

ENN reports a first on its EXL-50U device

ENN Group, based in Langfang, Hebei province, announced on Monday that its EXL-50U spherical device had successfully achieved hydrogen-boron fusion reactions.

The EXL-50U is described as a compact tokamak that uses a magnetic field to confine charged gas, or plasma, for nuclear fusion research.

The company stated: “This marks the first time a commercial fusion company has achieved a hydrogen-boron fusion reaction on its own device.”

The reported result involves high-parameter hydrogen-boron plasma control, which the source described as a first for the Chinese company.

Why the fuel choice matters in fusion research

The feat was hailed as a “significant and valuable contribution” to global research on magnetic confinement hydrogen-boron reactions.

The advance is being framed in the context of neutron-free magnetic confinement fusion, where hydrogen-boron reactions are a focus of research.

Current mainstream controlled nuclear fusion research, represented by the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor in France, predominantly uses deuterium-tritium, or D-T, as fuel.

Against that backdrop, ENN Group’s announcement places hydrogen-boron work by a commercial fusion company alongside the wider global effort to study controlled nuclear fusion.

Source: South China Morning Post