Fusion—up high and down here
24 Jul 2009
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UENO Kenichi, Naka Fusion Research Institute, Japan Atomic Energy Agency
This week, on Wednesday, people in Asia saw the longest total solar eclipse of the century, with large areas of India and China plunged into darkness. The event was also observed by the staff in Naka, Japan.
The JAEA institute invited staff and their families to participate in the event that they called "Let's see Solar Fusion!!" and to a visit of the JT-60 tokamak, the Japanese device to produce fusion energy down here on Earth.
Disappointment was tangible as big, thick grey clouds covered the sky over Naka on the 22nd. Many spectators gave up, but then the miracle happened: the sun appeared through the clouds! More than 120 people enjoyed this great astronomical show.