FRCHXAtShivaStar
Summary
The Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX) was a joint AFRL-LANL magnetized target fusion (MTF) experiment conducted at the Shiva Star capacitor bank facility at AFRL Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, from approximately 2007 to 2016. FRCHX used the Shiva Star pulsed power system (9.5 MJ, 120 kV, ~90 MA short-circuit current — the world's highest-energy fast capacitor bank) to form, translate, and compress FRC plasmas via aluminum liner implosion. The experiment represents the direct lineage successor to the classified MARAUDER compact toroid weapons program (1989-1995) at the same facility.
Intelligence Analysis
FRCHX at Shiva Star
Purpose: FRCHX at Shiva Star — AFRL/LANL FRC compression experiment Category: Assessment This assessment node connects to 5 entities in the network.
Key Relationships
- → MARAUDER (program): FRCHX at AFRL Shiva Star — SAME FACILITY as MARAUDER compact toroid experiments
- ← Shiva Star Status (organisation): Shiva Star hosted FRCHX FRC compression experiments — still operating 2024-2025
- → Skunk Works® CFR Program (event): FRCHX uses FRC plasma — same configuration as CFR high-beta confinement
- ← FRCHX Results (assessment): FRCHX achieved 540T compression — 400x — but FRC lifetime insufficient
- → Princeton Fusion (organisation): FRCHX FRC research — same plasma family as Princeton PFRC
Key Findings
- ▸ Purpose: FRCHX at Shiva Star — AFRL/LANL FRC compression experiment
- ▸ → MARAUDER (program): FRCHX at AFRL Shiva Star — SAME FACILITY as MARAUDER compact toroid experiments
- ▸ ← Shiva Star Status (organisation): Shiva Star hosted FRCHX FRC compression experiments — still operating 2024-2025
- ▸ → Skunk Works® CFR Program (event): FRCHX uses FRC plasma — same configuration as CFR high-beta confinement
- ▸ ← FRCHX Results (assessment): FRCHX achieved 540T compression — 400x — but FRC lifetime insufficient
Network Linkage
Connected to 5 entities (2 organisations, 1 program, 1 event, 1 assessment). Primary links: MARAUDER, Shiva Star Status, Skunk Works® CFR Program, FRCHX Results, Princeton Fusion.
External Primary Sources (6)
Related Entities (5)
marauder
Skunk Works® CFR Program
princeton-fusion-systems
FRCHXResults
shiva-star-status
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