arpa-e-alpha
Summary
Accelerating Low-cost Plasma Heating and Assembly (2015-2019). ARPA-E program focused on pulsed, intermediate-density fusion (MIF, Z-pinch variants). 9 funded projects including PLX-α (Plasma Liner Experiment at LANL). Program Director: Scott Hsu (formerly LANL). $30M+ total. Published retrospective in Journal of Fusion Energy. ALPHA explicitly targeted 'lower-cost' pathways — positioning against multi-billion-dollar ITER approach. Successor: BETHE program (2020-2024), then FIRE Collaboratives (2024+, $180M). ALPHA funded the PLX work that became HyperJet Fusion Corporation.
Deep Dive Analysis
Overview
Accelerating Low-cost Plasma Heating and Assembly (2015-2019). ARPA-E program focused on pulsed, intermediate-density fusion (MIF, Z-pinch variants). 9 funded projects including PLX-α (Plasma Liner Experiment at LANL). Program Director: Scott Hsu (formerly LANL). $30M+ total. Published retrospective in Journal of Fusion Energy. ALPHA explicitly targeted 'lower-cost' pathways — positioning against multi-billion-dollar ITER approach. Successor: BETHE program (2020-2024), then FIRE Collaboratives (2024+, $180M). ALPHA funded the PLX work that became HyperJet Fusion Corporation.
Entity Type: Program — ARPA-E ALPHA is a government or defense program/initiative.
Technical Definition
The U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy, funding high-risk energy R&D including the ALPHA alternative-fusion program.
Related Concepts: ALPHA, Fusion Research
Network Relationships
ARPA-E ALPHA connects to 5 entities in the intelligence network:
Experiments (1):
- ← PLX: ARPA-E BETHE funded
Organisations (4):
- → DOE: ARPA-E program (2015-2019)
- → Compact Fusion Systems (NM): Funded SLC device (AFRL equipment transfer)
- → Realta Fusion: Funded WHAM predecessor ($10M, 2020)
- → HyperJet Fusion: Funded PLX-α at LANL
Research Findings
ARPA-E ALPHA appears in 10 research analysis documents:
ARPA-E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019:
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 th...
Findings: FPT FRC Propulsion 2024
Source PDF: FPT_FRC_Propulsion_2024.pdf
Date range: 1975-2026
Source org: LANL
Summary
This 2024 technical assessment examines Field Propulsion Technologies (FPT) and the expanded Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) propulsion ecosystem, specifi...
Findings: FPT FRC Propulsion 2024
Source PDF: FPT_FRC_Propulsion_2024.pdf
Date range: 1975-2026
Source org: LANL
Summary
This 2024 technical assessment examines Field Propulsion Technologies (FPT) and the expanded Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) propulsion ecosystem, specifi...
FPT Propulsion Ecosystem Assessment 2024:
Findings: FPT Propulsion Ecosystem Assessment 2024
Source PDF: FPT_Propulsion_Ecosystem_Assessment_2024.pdf
Date range: 1975-2025
Source org: LANL
Summary
This 2024 strategic assessment details the activities of Richard Banduric and Field Propulsion Technologies (FPT) in develo...
FPT Propulsion Ecosystem Assessment 2024:
Findings: FPT Propulsion Ecosystem Assessment 2024
Source PDF: FPT_Propulsion_Ecosystem_Assessment_2024.pdf
Date range: 1975-2025
Source org: LANL
Summary
This 2024 strategic assessment details the activities of Richard Banduric and Field Propulsion Technologies (FPT) in develo...
Source Documents
Intelligence derived from 3 source documents:
Key Findings
- ▸ Entity Type: Program — ARPA-E ALPHA is a government or defense program/initiative.
- ▸ Related Concepts: ALPHA, Fusion Research
- ▸ → DOE: ARPA-E program (2015-2019)
- ▸ → Compact Fusion Systems (NM): Funded SLC device (AFRL equipment transfer)
- ▸ → Realta Fusion: Funded WHAM predecessor ($10M, 2020)
Related Entities (5)
doe
compact-fusion-systems-nm
realta-fusion
hyperjet-fusion
plx
Network Graph
Explore arpa-e-alpha and its connections in the interactive network graph.
View in Network GraphSource Documents (3)
Research References
Search the research archive for documents and investigations related to arpa-e-alpha.
Search Research Archive