NRL LINUS
NRL LINUS
01 Executive_Summary
Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) fusion reactor concept involving a rotationally stabilized liquid lead-lithium liner and mechanical compression. LINUS represented a fundamentally different approach to liner compression — using liquid metal and rotational stabilization rather than solid metal liners and magnetic drive. CFS-NM's spinning liquid-metal liner (SLC) concept has strong conceptual similarities to LINUS.
02 Definition
03 Deep_Dive_Intelligence
Overview
LINUS was an NRL fusion reactor concept from 1971 that used a rotationally stabilized liquid lead-lithium liner to compress plasma for fusion. The liquid metal liner was spun to provide rotational stabilization, preventing Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities that plague solid liner approaches.
Connection to CFS-NM
CFS-NM (Compact Fusion Systems New Mexico) was founded by Peter Turchi in 2017. CFS-NM's spinning liquid-metal liner (SLC) concept has strong conceptual similarities to LINUS. Turchi's 42-year career connects LASL (1975), AFRL Shiva Star (1980s-1990s), Atlas (2000s), and CFS-NM (2017), linking the LASL Fast Liner, NRL LINUS, AFRL MARAUDER, and CFS-NM SLC across four decades.
Lineage
NRL LINUS → CFS-NM SLC represents a separate but related lineage to the LANL → LLNL → AFRL compact toroid lineage. Both lineages involve liner compression of plasma, but LINUS/SLC uses liquid metal while FRCHX uses solid aluminum liners.
05 Related_Entities (2)
05b Related_Topics (2)
06 Research_Findings (1)
NRL LINUS (1971) liquid metal liner concept. CFS-NM SLC has strong conceptual similarities. Turchi connects both.
07 Key_Findings
- ▸ ### Overview LINUS was an NRL fusion reactor concept from 1971 that used a rotationally stabilized liquid lead-lithium liner to compress plasma for fusion.
- ▸ The liquid metal liner was spun to provide rotational stabilization, preventing Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities that plague solid liner approaches.
- ▸ ### Connection to CFS-NM CFS-NM (Compact Fusion Systems New Mexico) was founded by Peter Turchi in 2017.
09 Timeline_Mentions (2)
Compact Fusion Systems (Santa Fe) founded — FRCHX commercial continuation
CFS-NM commercializes AFRL liner compression. Team has AFRL/NRL SLC experience. ARPA-E funded equipment transfer.
fusion-researchNRL LINUS Liquid Metal Liner Concept
NRL develops the LINUS fusion reactor concept using rotationally stabilized liquid lead-lithium liner. CFS-NM's SLC concept has strong conceptual similarities.
Fusion Physics10 FAQ
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Verified_Primary_Sources 1 SOURCES
Type: experiment
Region: main
Last updated: Research database snapshot