Satellite images have revealed a massive X-shaped structure emerging from the rugged terrain of southwestern China, identified by analysts as a significant nuclear fusion research facility, CNN reports.
This development raises the possibility that China is accelerating its progress in the pursuit of harnessing this potentially revolutionary energy source, while also sparking concerns about potential nuclear weapons advancements.
The facility, located near Mianyang in Sichuan province, has been monitored for years by experts like Decker Eveleth, an analyst at the CNA Corporation. Construction rapidly accelerated after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, transforming what was once “a patch of dirt” into a sprawling complex.
According to Eveleth, the facility’s four giant arms are “bays” designed to direct powerful lasers toward a central tower housing a target chamber containing hydrogen isotopes. The intense laser energy aims to fuse the hydrogen atoms together, creating a burst of energy in a process known as ignition.
This laser-ignition technology allows scientists to study materials under extreme conditions, recreating the pressures found in the core of stars or within nuclear weapons, according to Brian Appelbe, a research fellow from the Centre for Inertial Fusion Studies at Imperial College London.
Nuclear fusion promises abundant, clean energy without the persistent radioactive waste associated with current nuclear fission technology. Countries worldwide are fiercely competing to achieve a breakthrough in this field.
The United States has been a leading force, with the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California achieving a major milestone in 2022 by demonstrating a successful nuclear fusion reaction with a net energy gain. However, China’s new facility, estimated to be 50% larger than the NIF, could shift the balance of power.
The larger scale could offer advantages, allowing for higher pressures and greater material compression, potentially leading to increased energy output from fusion experiments, Appelbe noted.
While a positive interpretation suggests the facility could demonstrate China’s commitment to non-explosive nuclear testing, some analysts also raise concerns that it could enable the development of more sophisticated and compact nuclear weapons designs.
Some experts also speculate that the Mianyang site may ultimately become a hybrid fusion-fission facility.
Regardless, the facility is “clearly part of an ambitious program,” according to Holland, and signifies China’s rapid progress in translating concepts into tangible infrastructure. While the US currently maintains a lead in the fusion race, Holland believes that “China is moving fast.”
