A U.S. startup has achieved a significant breakthrough in the pursuit of fusion energy with its latest device, the Fusion Z-pinch Experiment 3 (FuZE-3), which has generated plasma pressures akin to those found in the Earth’s deep crust.
Zap Energy, a fusion power innovator based in Seattle, recorded electron pressures reaching 830 megapascals (MPa), translating to nearly 1.6 gigapascals (GPa) in total pressure, showcasing a remarkable advancement in the field.
The findings, unveiled this week during the American Physical Society’s Division of Plasma Physics meeting in Long Beach, California, mark the highest-pressure performance recorded in a sheared-flow-stabilised Z pinch to date.
The company’s results signify a crucial milestone toward achieving scientific energy gain, represented by a Q value greater than one.
“There have been substantial modifications in FuZE-3 compared to Zap’s earlier systems, and it’s impressive to witness such swift performance enhancements,” stated Colin Adams, the head of experimental physics at Zap Energy.
Attaining fusion energy necessitates the creation of plasma that is not only extremely hot but also densely packed. Increased pressure correlates directly with a rise in fusion reactions, thereby enhancing energy production.
While various fusion devices prioritise maximum pressure or extended confinement times, Zap Energy’s sheared-flow-stabilised Z pinches strive to achieve an equilibrium between compression and confinement.
FuZE-3 represents the U.S. firm’s most advanced fusion platform to date and is distinguished by the inclusion of a third electrode, which separates the forces responsible for plasma acceleration and compression.
The latest measurements indicated electron pressures of 830 megapascals, and when accounting for both electrons and ions, the total plasma pressure neared 1.6 gigapascals (GPa). .sheared-flow-stabilised
Sheared-flow-stabilisedThis staggering pressure is roughly 10,000 times that of atmospheric pressure at sea level, and approximately ten times the pressure found at the depths of the Mariana Trench.
These extraordinary conditions were sustained for approximately one microsecond and measured via optical Thomson scattering, the gold standard for plasma diagnostics.
The recent campaign featuring FuZE-3 executed multiple shots, achieving electron densities ranging from 3 to 5 x 10²⁴ m⁻³ and electron temperatures exceeding one kilo-electronvolt (keV), equating to over 21 million degrees Fahrenheit.
Sheared-flow-stabilisedPushing Fusion Energy Limits with Zap Energy’s innovative strategy, referred to as sheared-flow-stabilised Z-pinch fusionSheared-flow-stabilised Pushing, contrasts sharply with traditional tokamaks and laser-driven reactors.
The FuZE-3 apparatus employs a slender plasma column, supported by high-speed flow, in lieu of magnetic coils or high-powered lasers.
This design facilitates the attainment of extreme pressures and temperatures within a considerably more compact framework. FuZE-3 is engineered to achieve elevated triple product values, a pivotal fusion metric that integrates plasma density, temperature, and confinement duration. The device employs three electrodes alongside two capacitor banks.
“Having the ability to independently manage plasma acceleration and compression provides us with a new mechanism to fine-tune the physics and augment plasma density,” remarked Adams.
“While two-electrode systems have effectively heated plasma, they have fallen short of the compression that our theoretical models aim for.”
Although the recent findings are still in preliminary stages, they signify a progressive stride toward achieving scientific energy gain, commonly referred to as Q > 1—the threshold at which a fusion system produces more energy than it consumes.
“We are merely at the inception of our work with FuZE-3,” asserted Ben Levitt, the vice president of R&D at Zap Energy. The firm plans to continue its scientific investigations with FuZE-3 over the upcoming months, while simultaneously readying a next-generation FuZE platform, expected to commence operations this winter.
“It was recently constructed and commissioned; we are producing an abundance of high-quality shots with substantial repeatability, leaving ample potential for ongoing advancements in fusion performance,” concluded Levitt in a press release.
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