SHINE Technologies, based in Janesville, Wisconsin, has announced a groundbreaking achievement in the field of nuclear fusion. The company successfully demonstrated visible Cherenkov radiation produced by fusion, a milestone never before reached in the history of fusion technology.
Unlike past demonstrations of fusion that relied on sophisticated instruments for detection, SHINE’s breakthrough allowed for the visible observation of Cherenkov radiation. This radiation, emitting a characteristic blue glow, was achieved through the company’s deuterium-tritium fusion operations at their main campus.
The Cherenkov radiation was produced when the target chamber of SHINE’s fusion system was submerged underwater. When fusion occurs, fast charged particles move faster than light in water, creating a shock wave that releases energy in the form of visible blue light.
Gerald Kulcinski, Grainger Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Engineering and Director Emeritus of Fusion Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, highlighted the significance of this achievement. “The Cherenkov radiation effect produced here was bright enough to be visible, which means there’s a lot of fusion happening—about 50 trillion fusions per second,” he said. “These results are powerful evidence of nuclear processes at play and further proof that fusion can produce neutrons on par with some reactors.”
The process began when a hydrogen atom absorbed a neutron and emitted a high-energy gamma ray. The gamma ray then struck an electron, accelerating it close to the speed of light and creating the visible Cherenkov radiation. This phenomenon is named after Nobel laureate Pavel Cherenkov, who first demonstrated and explained this type of radiation.
Greg Piefer, founder and CEO of SHINE, expressed his excitement: “Fusion has long captured the imagination of scientists and the public. To be able to create visual evidence of fusion is just really cool. This demonstration is proof that we are able to produce enough reactivity for some commercial applications historically served by reactors, and clearly demonstrates the next step in our multi-phased approach to ultimately commercialize fusion energy.”
SHINE Technologies employs a four-phased approach to scale its fusion technology for various applications. Currently, its systems are used to inspect industrial components in aerospace and defense sectors. SHINE is also working on producing medical isotopes, with plans to install eight such systems inside The Chrysalis, their fusion-driven neutron production facility. Ultimately, SHINE aims to tackle recycling nuclear waste and generating fusion power to offer clean, abundant energy.
The company’s gradual commercialization of fusion technology holds promise for addressing some of energy’s toughest challenges. Craig Piercy, CEO of the American Nuclear Society, congratulated SHINE: “Congratulations to SHINE on reaching a milestone moment in their goal to use a fusion-driven device to produce life-saving medical isotopes. Seeing the Cherenkov radiation produced by SHINE’s fusion-driven device is exciting progress in the advancement of fusion technology.”
As the world continues to seek cleaner and more efficient energy solutions, SHINE Technologies’ breakthrough offers a glimpse into a future where nuclear fusion could play a pivotal role in supplying sustainable energy.