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Wendelstein 7-X produces first hydrogen plasma

In a bid to advance plasma research, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel actually pushed some buttons herself: on February 3, 2016, Merkel, during a visit to the Wendelstein X-7 experimental fusion reactor at the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) in Greifswald, personally flipped the switch to generate the machine’s first hydrogen plasma. “This marks the beginning of an experiment unique in the world, which can bring us one step closer to the energy source of the future,” the Chancellor said. Wendelstein 7-X, fired up in early December 2015 using helium; now it has started its experimental scientific operation. With Wendelstein 7-X, the world’s largest and most advanced fusion device of the stellarator type, researchers want to investigate this configuration’s suitability for use in a power plant. “For the Max Planck Society, the operational start of Wendelstein-7X is a milestone in its own history”, said Martin Stratmann, President of the Max Planck Society. Stratamnn went on to thank the Institute’s researchers: “You have achieved a true milestone in plasma physics and technical engineering on the road towards a sustainable energy supply in the 21st century.”“

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