Direct Fusion Drive (DFD)

Overview

Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) is a fusion propulsion concept that uses a Princeton Field-Reversed Configuration (PFRC) to generate thrust for interplanetary spacecraft. The DFD was developed by Princeton Satellite Systems in collaboration with Samuel Cohen at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).

PFRC Connection

The PFRC (Princeton Field-Reversed Configuration) is a compact FRC experiment at PPPL. The FRC physics used in PFRC descends from LANL's foundational FRX research. The DFD applies this FRC physics to space propulsion — one of the four application domains (energy, weapons, ICF, propulsion).

Significance

DFD represents the propulsion application domain of the compact toroid/MIF technology family. It connects LANL's FRX → Princeton's PFRC → DFD propulsion. This is a separate propulsion track from Slough's Fusion Driven Rocket (FDR), which uses MIF metal liners rather than FRC heating.