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Executive Summary

This document describes a method for creating nuclear fusion called Magnetized Target Fusion, which uses magnetic fields to trap heat and allow for slower, more efficient compression of fuel. It details research progress at Los Alamos National Laboratory, including collaborations with Russian scientists to develop cost-effective fusion energy technology.
Analysis Confidence: High
ST_CODE: 523416

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Source ID

DOC-LANL_MAG

Process Date

2/3/2026

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COMPLETE

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INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS

Layman's Executive Summary

This document describes a method for creating nuclear fusion called Magnetized Target Fusion, which uses magnetic fields to trap heat and allow for slower, more efficient compression of fuel. It details research progress at Los Alamos National Laboratory, including collaborations with Russian scientists to develop cost-effective fusion energy technology.

Document Origin

The document was authored by Peter T. Sheehey and a research team at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), operated by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Research Purpose

The research aimed to explore Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) as a middle ground between magnetic and inertial confinement, seeking to reduce the massive driver power requirements of traditional fusion by using magnetic insulation and pulsed-power systems.

Relevancy Analysis

" This report is highly relevant to investigations into high-energy-density physics and advanced propulsion, as the pulsed-power facilities mentioned (Pegasus, Atlas, Procyon) are central to advanced weapons and energy research. The collaboration with the Russian VNIIEF institute on 'MAGO' devices indicates a significant sharing of sensitive plasma physics data often associated with classified aerospace or nuclear development programs. "

Extracted Verifiable Claims

  • › Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) uses magnetic fields to suppress electron thermal conduction losses during target implosion.
  • › The document identifies the 'MAGO' plasma experiment as a collaboration between Los Alamos National Laboratory and the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics (VNIIEF).
  • › Sandia National Laboratories performed experiments on the electron-beam-driven '<|>-target' (phi-target).
  • › Los Alamos facilities for MTF research include the Pegasus and Atlas fixed pulsed-power facilities and the Procyon explosive-flux-compression generator.
  • › The document states that MTF allows for lower implosion velocities (e.g., 1 cm/us) compared to traditional Inertial Confinement Fusion.

Technical Contribution

This document provides a technical bridge between theoretical modeling and the physical implementation of the 'MAGO' plasma experiments, specifically highlighting a post-Cold War joint research effort between U.S. and Russian nuclear laboratories.

FORENSIC_TRANSCRIPT_LOG

Transcript

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INTRODUCTION

LA-UR- aw F-7£,o6>n(>~Sj£, Title: Author(s): Submitted to: Computational and Experimental Investigation of Magnetized Target Fusion JUL 1 9 1996 OSTI Peter Sheehey, Joyce Guzik, Ronald Kirkpatrick, Irvin Lindemuth, David Scudder, Jack Shlachter, and Frederick Wysocki Fusion Technology Los Alamos NATIONAL LABORATORY Los Alamos National Laboratory, an affirmative action/equal opportunity empldyer, is operated by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract W-7405-ENG-36. By acceptance of this article, the publisher recognizes that the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or to allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes. The Los Alamos National Laboratory requests that the publisher identify this article as work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy. DISTRIBUTION Of THIS DOCUMENT IS UNLMTED^rr "s^asio/ei <K DISCLAIMER Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or use- fulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any spe- cific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufac- turer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recom- mendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. COMPUTATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF MAGNETIZED TARGET FUSION Peter T. Sheehey, Joyce A. Guzik, Ronald C. Kirkpatrick, frvin R. Lindemuth, David W. Scudder, Jack S. Shlachter, and Frederick J. Wysocki Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA 505-667-7879