SNU researchers reveal the mechanism of runaway electron generation in tokamak fusion reactors

Seoul National University College of Engineering announced that Professor Yong-su Na’s research team from the Department of Nuclear Engineering (with Ph. D. student Yeong-sun Lee as the 1st author) has clarified the mechanism behind the generation of runaway electrons during the startup phase of a tokamak fusion reactor.

Nuclear fusion energy refers to a power generation method that harnesses the energy of an artificial sun created on Earth, using resources extracted from seawater. To achieve this, technology capable of confining high-temperature plasma exceeding 100 million degrees for extended periods in a fusion reactor is essential. A tokamak is an artificial sun system in the shape of a torus, with no beginning or end, where magnetic fields are applied to confine particles.

To initiate nuclear fusion reactions within a tokamak, high-temperature plasma must first be generated, a process known as "startup." The startup process requires a strong electric field, similar to the principle of lightning, but this electric field also leads to the generation of “runaway electrons”. Runaway electrons are high-energy electrons that receive continuous acceleration from the electric field, becoming so fast that their acceleration is unstoppable. These electrons hinder plasma formation by taking it off externally applied energy and can damage the device, making them one of the critical challenges that must be resolved for successful nuclear fusion. Therefore, accurately predicting the formation of runaway electrons is essential for the commercialization of tokamak reactors.

Through collaborative research with the Max-Planck Institute fur Plasmaphysik and ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) International Organization, Professor Na (corresponding author) and Ph. D. student Lee (1st author) discovered that existing theories fail to adequately explain this phenomenon. They generalized a kinetic theory to identify a novel mechanism for the generation of runaway electrons, addressing a theoretical bottleneck in the design of start-up processes for ITER and commercial fusion reactors.

The research team found that the formation of runaway electrons during startup has a binary nature, determined by whether inelastic interactions with individual neutral particles occur. Electrons that avoid inelastic interactions with neutral particles significantly contribute to the formation of runaway electrons. To elucidate this, they generalized the theory of electron kinetics and demonstrated the mechanism that classical theory failed to capture.

Supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT’s "Fusion Leading Technology Development Program," the research findings were published online in the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters on October 24 under the title “Binary Nature of Collisions Facilitates Runaway Electron Generation in Weakly Ionized Plasmas”.

The results of this study are expected to be applied not only to the startup design of Korea’s demonstration and commercial reactors but also to ITER, a collaborative project involving South Korea, the European Union, the United States, Japan, Russia, China, and India.

□ Introduction to the SNU College of Engineering

Seoul National University (SNU) founded in 1946 is the first national university in South Korea. The College of Engineering at SNU has worked tirelessly to achieve its goal of ‘fostering leaders for global industry and society.’ In 12 departments, 323 internationally recognized full-time professors lead the development of cutting-edge technology in South Korea and serving as a driving force for international development.