Science

Radio waves drive a fusion plasma current that could help reactors run continuously

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 27/10/2026, 11:25:26 UTC.

Briefings

A U.S. team led by Jeff Lestz at General Atomics successfully demonstrated helicon current drive in a tokamak experiment, proving radio waves can steer around a donut-shaped device to absorb by the confined plasma and drive an electric current. This marks the first clear demonstration of this mechanism in a nuclear fusion context, suggesting potential for continuous reactor operation.

Key points

• A U.S. team led by Jeff Lestz at General Atomics demonstrated helicon current drive in a tokamak experiment, proving radio waves can steer around a donut-shaped device to absorb by the confined plasma and drive an electric current.
• The experiment utilized the latest advances in tokamak technology to show that radio waves steered to travel around the donut-shaped device can be absorbed by its confined plasma, driving an electric current inside it.

Context

This finding represents a breakthrough in nuclear fusion research, as it provides a mechanism for sustaining plasma currents that could enable reactors to run continuously rather than requiring frequent restarts.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single experiment conducted by a specific team at General Atomics in the U.S. during 2026. The study is a preprint with no peer-reviewed validation, and the long-term viability of the demonstrated current drive remains unproven.

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