"Enhancing Fusion Device Performance with Liquid Lithium Wall Coating"

Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have found that applying a coating of liquid lithium to the internal walls of fusion plasma containment devices, such as tokamaks, helps maintain a hot edge of the plasma. This approach, demonstrated in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment-Beta (LTX-β), could make fusion energy more practical and cost-effective by improving energy confinement and reducing the need for repairs. The liquid lithium absorbs hydrogen ions escaping from the plasma, creating a low-recycling environment that allows for better heat confinement and temperature uniformity within the plasma.