- First Light Fusion achieved a tenfold increase in stand-off distance for their projectile fusion approach, using an advanced “electric gun” design to launch a solid-state projectile over 10cm with precision.
- The company made history by conducting an experiment on Sandia National Laboratories’ Z Machine, setting a new pressure record for quartz and validating the effectiveness of their amplifiers.
- CEO Nick Hawker emphasized the significant progress in derisking their technology, highlighting the importance of addressing power plant fundamentals for achieving commercial, cost-effective, and scalable fusion energy solutions.
First Light Fusion, a pioneering company based near Oxford, UK, is making remarkable strides in the field of nuclear fusion with its unique approach known as projectile fusion. Unlike traditional methods that rely on lasers or magnets, First Light’s innovative technique involves accelerating a projectile to extreme speeds to compress a fusion fuel target. This compression generates the high temperatures and pressures essential for initiating nuclear fusion.
Recently, the company reached a significant milestone by extending the stand-off distance tenfold, from 10mm to 10cm, through the development of an advanced “electric gun” design. This breakthrough allows the projectile to remain in a solid state over the increased distance. The design was meticulously crafted by tailoring the electric gun foil and projectile thicknesses, guided by simulations of material strength. This ensures that the projectile retains its structural integrity throughout its 10cm flight.
Mila Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for First Light Fusion, highlighted the importance of this achievement in scaling up their technology and advancing towards the design of a pilot power plant based on their projectile fusion approach. She emphasized that one of the key challenges in their current pilot plant design is the capability to launch a projectile at high speeds and from a greater distance, making this milestone a significant step forward.
In a testament to their technological prowess, First Light Fusion recently became the first private fusion company to conduct an experiment on the renowned Sandia National Laboratories’ Z Machine in New Mexico, USA. The Z Machine stands as the world’s most powerful pulsed power facility, boasting a peak power of 80 trillion watts. This collaboration allowed First Light Fusion to set a new pressure record for quartz, validating the effectiveness of their amplifiers and further bolstering their confidence in the viability of their approach.
Nick Hawker, the CEO of First Light Fusion, expressed confidence in their understanding of the physics of inertial fusion and highlighted their recent successes, including the groundbreaking experiment at Sandia. He underscored the significance of addressing the fundamentals of power plant design to achieve a commercial, cost-effective, and scalable fusion energy solution. The successful increase in stand-off distance is viewed by Hawker as a pivotal moment in derisking their technology, unlocking substantial benefits for their fusion approach. Moving forward, the company’s focus will shift towards studying and refining the accuracy of projectile launch to continue advancing their fusion technology.
In summary, First Light Fusion’s innovative approach to nuclear fusion and their recent achievements signify promising progress in the quest for clean, sustainable, and abundant energy through fusion power.
