Primary Intelligence Asset

lanl-infuse-workshop-fusion-capabilities-2019

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Executive Summary

This document outlines the development of specialized electrical power systems designed to trigger and sustain a compact fusion reactor project led by Lockheed Martin. It describes the hardware used to generate massive bursts of energy required to test their prototype 100-megawatt power plant.
Analysis Confidence: High
ST_CODE: 2903A9

System Metadata

Source ID

DOC-LOCKHEED

Process Date

2/3/2026

Integrity Hash

SHA256-z49ij4eial8...

Indexer Status

COMPLETE

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INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS

Layman's Executive Summary

This document outlines the development of specialized electrical power systems designed to trigger and sustain a compact fusion reactor project led by Lockheed Martin. It describes the hardware used to generate massive bursts of energy required to test their prototype 100-megawatt power plant.

Document Origin

The document is a technical poster summary (ID: 1214, Type: 5P71) from the 2019 Pulsed Power & Plasma Science (PPPS) conference, authored by researchers from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

Research Purpose

The research was conducted to develop and test several megawatt-class pulsed power systems needed for the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR). These systems are required to drive plasma sources and confinement coils with high efficiency and stability while minimizing electrical noise.

Relevancy Analysis

" This document serves as a critical technical bridge in the study of aerospace 'black programs' and advanced energy research. It provides concrete evidence of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works' progress on the Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR), shifting the project from theoretical 'high-beta' concepts into tangible pulsed-power hardware. It complements existing data on plasma confinement research by showing how major aerospace firms are operationalizing fusion for potential mobile or grid-scale power applications. "

Extracted Verifiable Claims

  • › The Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) is designed as a 100 MWe-class fusion power plant.
  • › The reactor utilizes a high-beta, linear encapsulated ring-cusp magnetic confinement scheme.
  • › The pulsed power systems developed for the CFR operate with pulse lengths ranging from tens to hundreds of milliseconds.
  • › Authors include Dr. Adam Steiner and Dr. Thomas McGuire, specifically representing Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
  • › The presentation details MW-class, medium- and high-voltage pulsed power systems including ultracapacitor-driven DC/DC converters.

Technical Contribution

This document identifies the specific electrical topologies—such as ultracapacitor-driven buck converters and resonant LC voltage amplifiers—being utilized in the physical prototypes of Lockheed Martin's high-beta fusion reactor.

FORENSIC_TRANSCRIPT_LOG

Transcript

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INTRODUCTION

PPPS 2019 Contribution ID:1214Type:Poster 5P71 - Pulsed Power Systems Developed for the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor Friday 28 June 2019 13:30 (1h 30m) The Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Program endeavors to quickly develop a compact, 100 MWe-class fusion power plant using a high-beta, linear encapsulated ring-cusp magnetic confinement scheme. Plasma sources, heating elements, and confinement coils incorporated into CFR prototypes require significant power and have motivated the development of several MW-class, medium- and high-voltage pulsed power systems with pulse lengths in the range of tens to hundreds of milliseconds. Topologies utilized on CFR include simultaneously-triggered and independent module-triggered pulse forming networks; ultracapacitor-driven DC/DC converters; resonant LC voltage amplifiers; ultracapacitor-driven buck converters; and stiff, variable- load capacitor banks. The performances of several of these pulsed power sources are analyzed for efficiency, stability of output pulses, and magnitude of noise generation. Existing, in-process, and planned integrations of pulsed power machines on CFR prototypes are presented, and the compatibility of pulsed power drivers with nearby plasma diagnostics is discussed. Authors:Dr STEINER, Adam (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics);Mr MONTECALVO, Nicolo (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics); Mr BILODEAU, Maxwell (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics);Mr LOCANO, Jordan (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics);Dr MCGUIRE, Thomas (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics) Presenter:Dr STEINER, Adam (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics) Session Classification:Poster - Compact and Explosive Pulsed Power and Pulsed Power Systems Track Classification:8.6 Prime Power and Power System Topologies