glossary:fast
CONCEPT dossier

FAST

Glossary term: FAST

CONCEPT Programs

01 Executive_Summary

A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context.

02 Definition

A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context.

Related terms: FRC FESAC

03 Deep_Dive_Intelligence

Overview

A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context.

Role: Glossary term: FAST

Entity Type: Concept — FAST is a technical concept or theoretical framework.

Technical Definition

A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context.

Related Concepts: FRC, FESAC

05b Related_Topics (1)

Field-Reversed Configuration
usa → russia → china → japan → israel →

07 Key_Findings

  • ▸ Entity Type: Concept — FAST is a technical concept or theoretical framework.

09 Timeline_Mentions (10)

1985

Christopher Mellon (1985-2026): DASD-I under Clinton/Bush, SSCI Staff Director, gave Pentagon videos to NYT, Disclosure Foundation Chair

20-year IC career. DASD-I Clinton/Bush. SSCI Staff Director. SAP oversight. Gave Pentagon videos to NYT. USSOCOM legislation. Disclosure Foundation chair. Japan UAP caucus address. AARO obstruction ev

uap-research
1990

MARAUDER program begins — AFRL fires compact toroid plasmoids as weapons

Shiva Star facility. 100 billion g acceleration. Explicitly NOT fusion. Same facility as FRCHX. The critical link.

defense-programs
1993

MARAUDER (August 1993): USAF compact toroid weapon, 100 billion g acceleration, Shiva Star, went dark mid-1990s

USAF Phillips Lab compact toroid weapon. 100 billion g acceleration. 9.5 MJ Shiva Star. 'Not a fusion program' — weapons. Physics identical to FRC. Went dark mid-1990s. Lineage: SHIVA I → MARAUDER → F

uap-research
1999

LV99 Turbulent Reconnection Theory

Lazarian and Vishniac propose that 3D turbulence makes magnetic reconnection fast, a cornerstone for astrophysical plasma models.

fusion-physics
1999

LV99 Reconnection Model Proposed

Lazarian and Vishniac propose the LV99 model, establishing that 3D turbulence makes magnetic reconnection fast and independent of resistivity.

fusion-physics
2001

FAST Experiment Initiated

The FRC Acceleration Space Thruster (FAST) experiment begins at NASA MSFC to investigate repetitive FRC sources for Nuclear Electric Propulsion.

fusion-physics
2002

FAST Experiment Initiated

Dr. John Slough at the University of Washington initiates the NASA-sponsored FRC Acceleration Space Thruster (FAST) experiment.

fusion-physics
2002

NASA FAST Experiment Established

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center initiates the FRC Acceleration Space Thruster (FAST) experiment to investigate FRC sources for Nuclear Electric Propulsion.

fusion-physics
2002

NASA FAST Experiment

NASA conducts the FRC Acceleration Space Thruster (FAST) experiment, a precursor to later private sector propulsion work.

fusion-physics
2003

Evolution to Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX)

The NASA FAST experiment evolves into the Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX), continuing research into compact toroid acceleration for propulsion.

fusion-physics
View Full Timeline → View on Network Graph →

10 FAQ

What is FAST? ▾
A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context.
What role does FAST play in the research network? ▾
FAST is classified under the "Programs" category, serving as Glossary term: FAST. A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context.
What evidence supports the FAST assessment? ▾
The intelligence assessment for FAST is supported by 4 primary sources, 1 PDF document, and 1 citation. Key sources include "FAST Project - Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (Official Website)", "Completion of Conceptual Design for FAST and Publication of Japan's First Private-Sector-Led CDR", and "Optimization of design point for a fusion energy systems integration test facility FAST - IOPscience". These documents provide the evidentiary basis for the analysis.
What is the technical definition of FAST? ▾
A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context. Related Concepts: FRC, FESAC
What is the physics behind FAST? ▾
A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context. Role: Glossary term: FAST Entity Type: Concept — FAST is a technical concept or theoretical framework.
What primary source PDFs are available for FAST? ▾
1 PDF document is available: "Toroidal alternates panel report". REPORT OF THE FESAC TOROIDAL ALTERNATES PANEL by PANEL STAFF NOVEMBER 26, 2008 Panel Staff Report of the FESAC Toroidal Alternates Panel TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...
What external sources document FAST? ▾
FAST is documented by 4 external sources, including 1 Official Project Website, 1 Official Project Announcement, and 1 Journal Article (Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion). Notable references include "FAST Project - Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (Official Website)", "Completion of Conceptual Design for FAST and Publication of Japan's First Private-Sector-Led CDR", and "Optimization of design point for a fusion energy systems integration test facility FAST - IOPscience".
What is the current status of FAST? ▾
A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context.
How does FAST relate to compact fusion research? ▾
Overview A fusion experiment/concept referenced in the corpus and the Japan graph (FAST Project). Also appears in the FESAC compact toroids report context. Role: Glossary term: FAST Entity Type: Concept — FAST is a technical concept or theoretical framework. Technical Definition A fusion...
What documents should I read to learn more about FAST? ▾
To learn more about FAST, review the 4 primary sources, 1 PDF document, and related research finding linked in the source documents section of this dossier.

Source_Documents 1 FILES

Toroidal alternates panel report
REPORT OF THE FESAC TOROIDAL ALTERNATES PANEL by PANEL STAFF NOVEMBER 26, 2008 Panel Staff Report of the FESAC Toroidal Alternates Panel TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1. General Findings Regarding Toroidal Alternates Research ............................................... 1-2 1.2. Concept Specific Findings Related to ITER-Era Goals ..............................................
PDF Archive →

External_References 5 REFS

/pdfs/1979 April 18-20.pdf#page=28 ref
/pdfs/1979 April 18-20.pdf#page=33 ref
/pdfs/1979 April 18-20.pdf#page=51 ref
/pdfs/1979 April 18-20.pdf#page=85 ref
/pdfs/1979 April 18-20.pdf#page=104 ref

Glossary_Sources

→ 1979 April 18-20.pdf → 1979 April 18-20.pdf → 1979 April 18-20.pdf → 1979 April 18-20.pdf → 1979 April 18-20.pdf

Citations 1

  1. [1] — Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI)

Verified_Primary_Sources 4 SOURCES

primary fast-pj.com Official Project Website
FAST Project - Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (Official Website)
Verifies: FAST is a low aspect-ratio tokamak with HTS coils for compact, economical fusion pilot plant; Specifications: 50-100 MW D-T fusion power, 300-1000 kW/m^2 neutron wall loading; Discharge duration ~1000 seconds, cumulative full-power operation ~1000 hours; Private-sector-led industry-academia collaboration in Japan led by Starlight Engine
External Link ↗
primary fast-pj.com Official Project Announcement
Completion of Conceptual Design for FAST and Publication of Japan's First Private-Sector-Led CDR
Verifies: Conceptual design for FAST device completed in November 2025; First CDR for a privately led fusion power demonstration project in Japan; Collaboration between Starlight Engine Ltd. and Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.; Basic safety design principles disclosed through dialogue with Nuclear Regulation Authority
External Link ↗
primary iopscience.iop.org Journal Article (Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion)
Optimization of design point for a fusion energy systems integration test facility FAST - IOPscience
Verifies: FAST (Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) proposed for DT fusion energy reactor R&D; Low aspect ratio (~2.2), compact (~2.0 m major radius) tokamak with HTS magnets; Neutral beam injection power of about 50 MW at 500 keV; Published in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Volume 67, Number 7 (2025)
External Link ↗
primary science.osti.gov Government Report (.gov)
Report of the FESAC Toroidal Alternates Panel - DOE Office of Science
Verifies: FESAC report covers Stellarator, Spherical Torus, Reversed Field Pinch, and Compact Torus concepts; Compact Torus includes spheromak and Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC); ITER-era goal for CT: demonstrate stable, sustained plasmas at kilovolt temperatures; FAST appears in FESAC compact toroids report context
External Link ↗
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ID: glossary:fast
Type: concept
Region: glossary
Last updated: Research database snapshot