UK fusion startup trials plasma-stabilising laser for ‘holy grail’ of energy

British startup Tokamak Energy is testing a new type of laser that it says is “crucial” to stabilising fusion reactions — the same atom-fusing process that powers the Sun and promises to deliver virtually limitless, clean energy.   The Oxford-based company is building ST40, a donut-shaped machine that in 2022 became the first privately-owned fusion reactor to reach 100 million °C — six times as hot as the core of our closest star. This is generally regarded as the temperature threshold whereby fusion reactions can become self-sustaining.  During fusion, atoms merge together. This produces huge amounts of power in the form…

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