nuclear-news

Google developing computer algorithm for nuclear fusion research

Google enters race for nuclear fusion technology. The tech giant and a leading US fusion company develop a new computer algorithm that significantly speeds up progress towards clean, limitless energy,Guardian,  Damian  Carrington, 26 July 17, Google and a leading nuclear fusion company have developed a new computer algorithm which has significantly speeded up experiments on plasmas, the ultra-hot balls of gas at the heart of the energy technology.

Tri Alpha Energy, which is backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, has raised over $500m (£383m) in investment. It has worked with Google Research to create what they call the Optometrist algorithm. This enables high-powered computation to be combined with human judgement to find new and better solutions to complex problems.

Nuclear fusion, in which atoms are combined at extreme temperatures to release huge amounts of energy, is exceptionally complex. The physics of nuclear fusion involves non-linear phenomena, where small changes can produce large outcomes, making the engineering needed to suspend the plasma very challenging.

“The whole thing is beyond what we know how to do even with Google-scale computer resources,” said Ted Baltz, at the Google Accelerated Science Team. So the scientists combined computer learning approaches with human input by presenting researchers with choices. The researchers choose the option they instinctively feel is more promising, akin to choosing the clearer text during an eye test…….https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/25/google-enters-race-for-nuclear-fusion-technology

July 26, 2017 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, technology