Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Sandia National Laboratories
Pacific Fusion recently announced our pursuit of net facility gain using pulsed magnetic fusion, where a large pulsed current creates a magnetic field to compress fusion targets to high fusion yield. On the heels of that announcement, today we are pleased to share that we have established a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Sandia National Laboratories.
For more than 50 years, Sandia has pioneered many elements of pulsed magnetic science and technology. Some of their recent advancements provide important foundations for our work at Pacific Fusion. For example, we are building a fast pulser, similar in many ways to Sandia’s Z Machine, which is currently the world’s largest and most powerful pulsed power facility. Z has driven the MagLIF concept to achieve the highest ever pulsed magnetic fusion Pτ, a result that is second only to laser-driven inertial fusion concepts.
Our collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories aims to leverage our combined expertise and resources to advance pulsed magnetic fusion and high-yield fusion (100+ megajoules) capabilities. Together, we will develop cutting-edge pulser architectures and create initiatives to nurture a diverse and vibrant pulsed magnetic HED community.
“Pulsed power technologies provide a compelling, energy-efficient approach to achieving high fusion yield,” said Greg Rochau, Director, Pulsed Power Sciences Center, Sandia, “This CRADA partnership with Pacific Fusion will increase the rate of progress for advanced pulser architectures and address challenges of operating in a high fusion yield environment. A major goal of the partnership is to rapidly advance these technologies for applications in energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration’s mission.”
“There is incredible potential for fusion power as an abundant, affordable, clean energy source,” said Keith LeChien, CTO and Cofounder, Pacific Fusion. “In partnering with Sandia, we not only advance that important mission, but we also put the U.S. back out front in the race to high-yield fusion. This CRADA is an important first step in our journey of bringing together the agility of private fusion with the expertise of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s national laboratories.”