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Ordinary sodium gas radiates bright yellow-orange light which scientists have termed the “D” spectral lines. Tungsten ions emit intense light in analogous “D” spectral lines, but they have higher energy levels.Measuring the wavelengths and relative intensities of lines in the spectrum of light released by a population of tungsten ions in the plasma can provide information about the fusion plasma conditions, such as magnetic field. Athough it’s challenging to measure light in this portion of the electromagnetic spectrum NIST’s John Gillaspy and his colleagues have now provided the first measurement of both “D” lines in tungsten. Gaining  us one step close to fusion energy