dtic-snl-magnetized-liner-inertial-fusion-2014
Executive Summary
System Metadata
Source ID
DOC-AFRL_FRC
Process Date
2/3/2026
Integrity Hash
SHA256-57k9xg48go3...
Indexer Status
COMPLETE
INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS
Layman's Executive Summary
This document details an Air Force-led experiment aimed at trapping and compressing high-energy plasma to advance fusion energy research. Researchers are investigating why the plasma is currently dissipating faster than expected, as achieving longer lifetimes is necessary for the technology to work effectively.
Document Origin
The document was authored by a multi-organizational team led by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Kirtland AFB, in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), SAIC, NumerEx LLC, and the Universities of Nevada Reno and New Mexico.
Research Purpose
The research seeks to identify and overcome the limitations of plasma confinement lifetimes within the Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX) to enable successful Magneto-Inertial Fusion (MIF) studies.
Relevancy Analysis
" This report documents a critical intersection between military (AFRL) and national laboratory (LANL) interests in compact fusion and High Energy Density Laboratory Plasma (HEDLP). Such research is foundational for developing advanced energy-density weapons, compact power sources, and potentially unconventional propulsion systems often scrutinized in aerospace 'black program' investigations. "
Extracted Verifiable Claims
- › The Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX) is a collaboration between AFRL and LANL.
- › The experiment requires a plasma confinement lifetime of approximately 20 microseconds for successful compression.
- › Actual measured lifetimes of the FRCs in the capture region are currently 7 to 9 microseconds.
- › The work was supported by the US Dept of Energy Office of Fusion Energy Studies under IA DE-AI02-04ER54764.
- › The FRC is formed by a reversed-field theta pinch inside a quartz tube with a conical bore coil.
Technical Contribution
This document provides specific empirical data on FRC plasma lifetime discrepancies, noting that current experiments achieve only 7-9 microseconds of confinement compared to the 20 microseconds required for effective compression.