General Fusion has ignited the key operational phase of its LM26 system. This prototype is already forming magnetized plasmas ready for compression, a crucial step in its Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) approach, which seeks to position itself as a viable pathway for the generation of fusion power generation large-scale fusion power generation.
A design prepared for the next thermal threshold
Since its first plasma in February this year, the LM26 has achieved regular operations, reaching confinement conditions in excess of 10 milliseconds and temperatures approaching 400 eV. The installation of its first lithium cladding and in-situ production of metal cylinders represent the final steps before active compression begins.
The immediate goal: to reach 10 million and 100 million degrees Celsius (1 keV and 10 keV respectively), validating the physical principles needed to approach Lawson equilibrium.
Plasma compression: the heart of the system
Unlike other approaches that require superconducting magnetic fields or high-energy lasers, General Fusion’s MTF uses a fused lithium coating that mechanically shrinks around a spheroidal plasma. This strategy simplifies heat removal and reduces radiation damage.
With more than 200,000 plasmas generated on previous systems, the company has adapted what it has learned on its P0 test stand to produce and precisely manipulate metal coatings using a specialized lathe.
Visualizing fusion energy in real time
One of the advances that sets LM26 apart is its visual diagnostic system. Using optical fibers and high-speed cameras, scientists can directly observe the symmetry and behavior of the plasma during each compression phase, improving the calibration of each cycle.
Research published in the journal Nuclear Fusion confirm that the PI3 plasma injector, now integrated in LM26, has passed the thresholds required to initiate the fusion process: energy confinement time exceeding 10 ms, densities up to 6×10^19 m^-3 and precompression temperatures close to 500 eV.
In addition, results from the compression science campaign between 2013 and 2019 demonstrated neutron yields above 600 million per second, which significantly reduces the technical risk of this phase.
Fusion power in the 2030s
Controlled compression of magnetized plasmas at LM26 represents a technical leap toward a fusion power plant. General Fusion plans to scale up the system after validating 100% of Lawson’s criteria, paving the way toward a pilot plant.
With the recent addition of experts such as Bob Smith, former CEO of Blue Origin, the company is reinforcing its development strategy to consolidate an emission-free, safe and scalable fusion technology. LM26 is now the epicenter of that ambition.
Follow us on social media and don’t miss any of our posts!
YouTube LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok
Source and photo: General Fusion
