Describe two specific challenges Ma and her team faced to reach ignition and the two experimental solutions to those challenges. Use evidence from the text to support your response.
One specific challenge that Ma and her team faced to reach ignition was the issue of energy loss. In the text, it is mentioned that the energy produced by the fusion reaction is very intense and high, but the challenge lies in trapping and maintaining that energy for a sufficient amount of time. This is because the plasma that contains the fusion fuel is highly instable and tends to escape, resulting in energy loss.
To tackle this challenge, Ma and her team experimented with using magnets to create a magnetic field that would confine the plasma. The text states that they decided to use a method called "magnetic confinement," where they employed powerful magnets to create a magnetic field that traps the plasma and prevents it from escaping. This solution was an experimental approach aimed at ensuring that the fusion reaction could be sustained for a longer duration, reducing energy loss.
Another challenge that Ma and her team faced was the need to achieve the right fusion conditions. The text mentions that in order for fusion to occur, the plasma must reach a temperature of over 100 million degrees Celsius. This is an extremely high temperature to achieve and control, which posed a significant challenge to Ma and her team.
To address this challenge, they experimented with a method called "inertial confinement," as mentioned in the text. In this approach, they used multiple lasers to create intense bursts of energy that could compress and heat the fusion fuel. By focusing the lasers onto a tiny pellet containing the fusion fuel, they were able to achieve the extreme temperatures required for fusion to occur. This experimental solution aimed to provide the necessary conditions for the fusion reaction to take place, overcoming the challenge of reaching and maintaining high temperatures.