prometheus-facility
PROGRAM dossier

Prometheus MIF Facility

Prometheus MIF Facility

PROGRAM Programs Also: Prometheus, Prometheus MIF, Prometheus facility

01 Executive_Summary

Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio pulsed-power MIF. ~15 MJ to liner, ~5 us current rise-time, 7.7 km/s shock-less implosion for 0.5 kg liner. $20M/year. Authors: J.H. Degnan (AFRL, MARAUDER veteran), C. Grabowski (AFRL→SNL, FRCHX lead), B. Bauer (UNR), G.A. Wurden (LANL), W.A. Reass (LANL), P. Turchi (LANL, CFS-NM co-founder). LINEAGE: MARAUDER (Degnan, 1990s) → FRCHX (Degnan/Grabowski, 2007-2016) → CFS-NM (Turchi, 2017) → Prometheus (Degnan/Grabowski/Turchi, proposed). The same team spans the entire weapons→energy→commercial chain. ATLAS was a weapons simulation machine at Nevada Test Site.

03 Deep_Dive_Intelligence

Overview

Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio pulsed-power MIF. ~15 MJ to liner, ~5 us current rise-time, 7.7 km/s shock-less implosion for 0.5 kg liner. $20M/year. Authors: J.H. Degnan (AFRL, MARAUDER veteran), C. Grabowski (AFRL→SNL, FRCHX lead), B. Bauer (UNR), G.A. Wurden (LANL), W.A. Reass (LANL), P. Turchi (LANL, CFS-NM co-founder). LINEAGE: MARAUDER (Degnan, 1990s) → FRCHX (Degnan/Grabowski, 2007-2016) → CFS-NM (Turchi, 2017) → Prometheus (Degnan/Grabowski/Turchi, proposed). The same team spans the entire weapons→energy→commercial chain. ATLAS was a weapons simulation machine at Nevada Test Site.

Entity Type: Program — Prometheus MIF Facility is a government or defense program/initiative.

Network Relationships

Prometheus MIF Facility connects to 4 entities in the intelligence network:

Experiments (2):

  • → Shiva Star: Successor to Shiva Star facility
  • → MagLIF: Complementary to Sandia MagLIF

Organisations (1):

Programs (1):

  • → MARAUDER: Degnan: MARAUDER veteran proposes next-gen facility

Research Findings

Prometheus MIF Facility appears in 5 research analysis documents:

AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011:

Findings: AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011

Source PDF: [AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011](/archive/AFRL_FRCHX_Plasma_Lifetime_2011) Date range: 1976-2013 Source org: LANL

Summary

This 2011 report by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) investigates the trapped-flux lifetime...

AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016:

Findings: AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016

Source PDF: [AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016](/archive/AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016) Date range: 1981-2022 Source org: LANL

Summary

This programmatic analysis investigates the 2014-2016 closeout of the Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX), a joint initiative by the Air Force ...

ARPA-E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019:

Findings: ARPA E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019

Source PDF: [ARPA-E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019](/archive/ARPA_E_ALPHA_Fusion_Retrospective_2019) Date range: 1956-2019 Source org: LANL

Summary

Produced by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E and Booz Allen Hamilton, this 2019 retrospective reviews th...

Charles Nakhleh Nuclear Physics Stewardship 2021:

Findings: Charles Nakhleh Nuclear Physics Stewardship 2021

Source PDF: [Charles Nakhleh Nuclear Physics Stewardship 2021](/archive/Charles_Nakhleh_Nuclear_Physics_Stewardship_2021) Date range: 1992-2025 Source org: LANL

Summary

This professional dossier evaluates the career of Dr. Charles W. Nakhleh and his strategic leadership roles...

HyperJet MagnetizedPlasmaJets 2021:

Findings: Hyperjet Magnetizedplasmajets 2021

Source PDF: [HyperJet MagnetizedPlasmaJets 2021](/archive/HyperJet_MagnetizedPlasmaJets_2021) Date range: 1961-2021 Source org: LANL

Summary

This 2021 final technical report from HyperJet Fusion Corporation details the development and experimental characterization of magnetiz...

Source Documents

Intelligence derived from 2 source documents:

  • OSTI.gov 1062697 — Prometheus white paper
  • APS DPP 2008 — BP6.21 (Degnan, FRC translation experiments)

05 Related_Entities (4)

MARAUDER
program →
Degnan: MARAUDER veteran proposes next-gen facility
Compact Fusion Systems (NM)
organisation →
Turchi: CFS-NM co-founder on Prometheus team
Shiva Star
experiment →
Successor to Shiva Star facility
MagLIF
experiment →
Complementary to Sandia MagLIF

05b Related_Topics (3)

Field-Reversed Configuration
usa → russia → china → japan → israel →
Magnetized Target Fusion
usa → russia → china →
Compact Fusion Reactor
usa → china → israel →

06 Research_Findings (5)

Finding

# Findings: AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_FRCHX_Plasma_Lifetime_2011.pdf` **Date range:** 1976-2013 **Source org:** LANL ## Summary This 2011 report by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) investigates the trapped-flux lifetime of plasma in the Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX). Researchers found that current plasma lifetimes are significantly shorter than the duration required for successful compress

View Source PDF → AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011
Finding

# Findings: AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016.pdf` **Date range:** 1981-2022 **Source org:** LANL ## Summary This programmatic analysis investigates the 2014-2016 closeout of the Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX), a joint initiative by the Air Force Research Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The report concludes with high confidence that the technology was not terminated but successfully transitioned to a classified program at Lockh

View Source PDF → AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016
Finding

# Findings: ARPA E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019 **Source PDF:** `ARPA-E_ALPHA_Fusion_Retrospective_2019.pdf` **Date range:** 1956-2019 **Source org:** LANL ## Summary Produced by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E and Booz Allen Hamilton, this 2019 retrospective reviews the ALPHA program’s efforts to develop low-cost magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) technologies. The report highlights experimental achievements from various research teams in advancing intermediate-density

View Source PDF → ARPA-E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019
Finding

# Findings: Charles Nakhleh Nuclear Physics Stewardship 2021 **Source PDF:** `Charles_Nakhleh_Nuclear_Physics_Stewardship_2021.pdf` **Date range:** 1992-2025 **Source org:** LANL ## Summary This professional dossier evaluates the career of Dr. Charles W. Nakhleh and his strategic leadership roles at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories. It details his technical contributions to High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) and the Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) program, which serve as

View Source PDF → Charles Nakhleh Nuclear Physics Stewardship 2021
Finding

# Findings: Hyperjet Magnetizedplasmajets 2021 **Source PDF:** `HyperJet_MagnetizedPlasmaJets_2021.pdf` **Date range:** 1961-2021 **Source org:** LANL ## Summary This 2021 final technical report from HyperJet Fusion Corporation details the development and experimental characterization of magnetized plasma jets for use in plasma jet driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF). Funded by the USDOE’s ARPA-E, the project successfully demonstrated that adding a bias field coil to existing plasma guns

View Source PDF → HyperJet MagnetizedPlasmaJets 2021

07 Key_Findings

  • ▸ Entity Type: Program — Prometheus MIF Facility is a government or defense program/initiative.
  • ▸ → Shiva Star: Successor to Shiva Star facility
  • ▸ → MagLIF: Complementary to Sandia MagLIF
  • ▸ → Compact Fusion Systems (NM): Turchi: CFS-NM co-founder on Prometheus team
  • ▸ → MARAUDER: Degnan: MARAUDER veteran proposes next-gen facility

09 Timeline_Mentions (1)

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
View Full Timeline → View on Network Graph →

10 FAQ

What is Prometheus MIF Facility? ▾
Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio pulsed-power MIF. ~15 MJ to liner, ~5 us current rise-time, 7.7 km/s shock-less implosion for 0.5 kg liner. $20M/year. Authors: J.H. Degnan (AFRL, MARAUDER veteran), C. Grabowski (AFRL→SNL, FRCHX lead), B....
What role does Prometheus MIF Facility play in the research network? ▾
Prometheus MIF Facility is classified under the "Programs" category. Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio...
What evidence supports the Prometheus MIF Facility assessment? ▾
The intelligence assessment for Prometheus MIF Facility is supported by 3 primary sources, 1 PDF document, and 5 research findings. Key sources include "The Prometheus Magneto-Inertial Fusion Research Facility [White Paper]", "Magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) overview - LA-UR", and "Magnetized Target Fusion: Potential Path From Science To Practical Fusion Energy". These documents provide the evidentiary basis for the analysis.
How does Prometheus MIF Facility connect to other entities in the network? ▾
Prometheus MIF Facility is connected to 4 entities in the intelligence network, including MARAUDER (program), Compact Fusion Systems (NM) (organisation), and Shiva Star (experiment). Key relationships: MARAUDER: Degnan: MARAUDER veteran proposes next-gen facility, Compact Fusion Systems (NM): Turchi: CFS-NM co-founder on Prometheus team, ; Shiva Star: Successor to Shiva Star facility.
What is the Prometheus MIF Facility program? ▾
Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio pulsed-power MIF. ~15 MJ to liner, ~5 us current rise-time, 7.7 km/s shock-less implosion for 0.5 kg liner. $20M/year. Authors: J.H. Degnan (AFRL, MARAUDER...
What organizations are involved in Prometheus MIF Facility? ▾
Prometheus MIF Facility involves 1 organization: Compact Fusion Systems (NM) (Turchi: CFS-NM co-founder on Prometheus team).
What research findings mention Prometheus MIF Facility? ▾
Prometheus MIF Facility appears in 5 research analysis documents, including "AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011", "AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016", and "ARPA-E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019". Findings: AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011 Source PDF: AFRL_FRCHX_Plasma_Lifetime_2011.pdf Date range: 1976-2013 Source org: LANL Summary This 2011 report by the Air Force Research Laboratory...
What primary source PDFs are available for Prometheus MIF Facility? ▾
1 PDF document is available: "Magnetized Target Fusion: Potential Path From Science To Practical Fusion Energy". This presentation explores Magneto-Inertial Fusion (MIF) and Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) as potential low-cost, intermediate paths between magnetic and inertial confinement fusion approaches....
What are the alternative names or aliases for Prometheus MIF Facility? ▾
Prometheus MIF Facility is also known as: Prometheus, Prometheus MIF, and Prometheus facility. These alternative names appear across different source documents and may reflect codenames, abbreviations, or historical references.
What external sources document Prometheus MIF Facility? ▾
Prometheus MIF Facility is documented by 3 external sources, including 2 technical report and 1 conference presentation. Notable references include "The Prometheus Magneto-Inertial Fusion Research Facility [White Paper]", "Magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) overview - LA-UR", and "Magnetized Target Fusion: Potential Path From Science To Practical Fusion Energy".
What is the historical timeline for Prometheus MIF Facility? ▾
Prometheus MIF Facility is referenced across documents spanning 1956–2025, with activity noted in 1956, 1961, and 1976. This temporal range is derived from the primary source documents in the research archive.

Source_Documents 3 FILES

Magnetized Target Fusion: Potential Path From Science To Practical Fusion Energy
This presentation explores Magneto-Inertial Fusion (MIF) and Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) as potential low-cost, intermediate paths between magnetic and inertial confinement fusion approaches. It details collaborative research between Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory focusing on Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) formation, translation, and implosion using Shiva Star. The slides address reactor engineering challenges, high-energy-density physics platforms, and magnetic reconnection dynamics.
PDF Archive →
OSTI.gov 1062697 — Prometheus white paper
PDF Archive →
APS DPP 2008 — BP6.21 (Degnan, FRC translation experiments)
PDF Archive →

External_References 2 REFS

OSTI.gov 1062697 — Prometheus white paper url ↗
APS DPP 2008 — BP6.21 (Degnan, FRC translation experiments) ref

Citations 1

  1. [1] (2011) — Los Alamos National Laboratory

Verified_Primary_Sources 3 SOURCES

primary osti.gov technical_report
The Prometheus Magneto-Inertial Fusion Research Facility [White Paper]
Verifies: Prometheus: next generation 60-MA pulsed power MIF facility; Based on proven ATLAS technologies (30-MA, 24-MJ, 240-kV); Q=1 DT-equivalent low-convergence ratio MIF plasmas; LANL/AFRL collaboration, Wurden, Degnan, Grabowski as authors; ~15 MJ energy to liner, 7.7 km/s implosion velocity for 0.5 kg liner
External Link ↗
primary osti.gov technical_report
Magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) overview - LA-UR
Verifies: MIF combines magnetic and inertial fusion approaches; Magnetic field reduces thermal conduction and enhances alpha heating; Relaxed implosion velocity (5-100 km/s) allowing pulsed power drivers; FRCHX at AFRL Shiva Star and MagLIF at Sandia as current facilities
External Link ↗
primary w3.pppl.gov conference_presentation
Magnetized Target Fusion: Potential Path From Science To Practical Fusion Energy
Verifies: MTF as subset of MIF requiring target plasma formation and compression; FRCHX at AFRL for implosion to megabar pressure; FRXL at LANL for FRC formation; Los Alamos/AFRL collaboration on field reversed configuration
External Link ↗
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ID: prometheus-facility
Type: program
Region: main
Last updated: Research database snapshot