The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) (formerly HT-7U), also known as "artificial sun", designed by the Institute of Plasma Physics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, opened to the public recently.
Over 3,000 residents in Hefei City, capital of central China's Anhui Province went to the Science Island to have a close contact with the "artificial sun".
Most of the visitors were students. Some were primary and middle school students accompanied by their teachers and parents. Some were from local universities of science and technology. People experienced the charm of science as they were amazed at the power of modern science and technology.
According to Professor Wan Yuanxi, who is in charge of the EAST project, the energy producing principle of this device is just the same as that of the sun. The sun emits strong lights that eradiate to space and the massive energy comes from nuclear fusion. Just like the sun, future "artificial sun" can generate electricity and effectively solve the present energy crisis of mankind.
It is reported that the EAST nuclear fusion device is in the testing and maintaining phase at present. It will formally undergo the first electricity discharge experiment this July.
(chinanews, People's Daily, May 23, 2006)
