General Fusion, a Canadian company, based in Richmond, British Columbia, has achieved a significant milestone in nuclear fusion by generating 600 million neutrons per second using its Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) technology. This breakthrough brings the prospect of sustainable fusion energy closer to reality.
The company set a new world record by producing 600 million neutrons per second through its Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) approach. This achievement was accomplished during the company’s recent Plasma Compression Science (PCS) experiments, marking a pivotal step toward practical fusion energy.
The MTF method employed by General Fusion involves mechanically compressing plasma within a spherical tokamak using a liquid metal liner and high-powered pistons. This technique eliminates the need for superconducting magnets or high-powered lasers, potentially reducing costs and complexity in fusion reactor design.
Key advancements from the PCS experiments include:
- A 190-fold increase in plasma density.
- A 13-fold enhancement in magnetic field strength.
- Improved plasma stability and confinement times exceeding compression durations.
These results have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Nuclear Fusion, validating the efficacy of General Fusion’s approach.
Dr. Michel Laberge, Founder and Chief Science Officer of General Fusion, stated, “During our PCS series, General Fusion was the first in the world to compress a spherical tokamak plasma with a collapsing metal liner, and we are thrilled to now share in a peer-reviewed publication the results we achieved in demonstrating fusion from MTF through this experimental campaign.”
This breakthrough signifies a substantial advancement in the pursuit of clean, limitless energy through nuclear fusion. General Fusion’s success with MTF technology could accelerate the development of commercially viable fusion power plants, potentially transforming the global energy landscape and contributing to efforts against climate change.
The company’s next objective is the development of the Lawson Machine 26 (LM26), a large-scale demonstration reactor aimed at achieving higher fusion yields and moving closer to the goal of electricity generation from fusion by the early to mid-2030s.
This achievement puts Canada’s at the forefront of fusion research and underscores the commitment to pioneering solutions for global energy challenges.
