shiva-star
Summary
High-powered pulsed-power research device at AFRL's Directed Energy Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Originally built in the 1970s for high-power x-ray research, later redirected to Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), now used for magnetized target fusion (MTF) research. Specifications: 10 MJ capacitor bank, 120 kV, 10 MA, ~1 μs pulse, terawatt power flow. Evolved from 1 MJ (1975) → 2 MJ (1979) → 10 MJ (1982). Used for FRCHX experiment (2007-2016): 1mm thick aluminum foil liner accelerated to ~5 km/s. Named after Hindu god Shiva (prototype had four 'arms,' later six). Managed by James Degnan (AFRL Fellow 2009, chief of High Power Microwave Division Pulsed Power Team). Degnan proposed 'Prometheus' — next-gen facility targeting Q=1 MIF.
Deep Dive Analysis
Overview
High-powered pulsed-power research device at AFRL's Directed Energy Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Originally built in the 1970s for high-power x-ray research, later redirected to Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), now used for magnetized target fusion (MTF) research. Specifications: 10 MJ capacitor bank, 120 kV, 10 MA, ~1 μs pulse, terawatt power flow. Evolved from 1 MJ (1975) → 2 MJ (1979) → 10 MJ (1982). Used for FRCHX experiment (2007-2016): 1mm thick aluminum foil liner accelerated to ~5 km/s. Named after Hindu god Shiva (prototype had four 'arms,' later six). Managed by James Degnan (AFRL Fellow 2009, chief of High Power Microwave Division Pulsed Power Team). Degnan proposed 'Prometheus' — next-gen facility targeting Q=1 MIF.
Entity Type: Experiment — Shiva Star is a scientific experiment or test program.
Technical Definition
A pulsed-power facility at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) on Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM. Originally built in the 1970s for nuclear weapons effects simulation, Shiva Star stores up to 10 megajoules of energy and discharges it in microseconds. It was used for magnetized target fusion experiments, including the AFRL Shiva Star implosion experiments that compressed FRC plasmas to high densities.
Related Concepts: Air Force Research Laboratory, Magnetized Target Fusion, FRC, Pulsed Power, FRCHX
Network Relationships
Shiva Star connects to 5 entities in the intelligence network:
Experiments (1):
- ← MAGO (VNIIEF): Both used explosive pulsed power for MTF
Organisations (1):
- ← Compact Fusion Systems (NM): Reusing AFRL equipment
Programs (3):
- ← MARAUDER: Used Shiva Star capacitor bank (9.5 MJ)
- ← Shiva Star Weapons Lineage: Facility lineage: weapons effects → SDI → MARAUDER → FRCHX
- ← Prometheus MIF Facility: Successor to Shiva Star facility
Research Findings
Shiva Star appears in 5 research analysis documents:
AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011:
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...
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 ...
DoD FRC-CFR Orb Assessment 2023:
Findings: Dod Frc cfr Orb Assessment 2023
Source PDF: DoD_FRC-CFR_Orb_Assessment_2023.pdf
Date range: 1975-2025
Source org: LANL
Summary
This technical assessment examines the clandestine acquisition ecosystem and developmental history of the Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) ...
LANL 3D Magnetic Reconnection FRC 2014:
Findings: LANL 3D Magnetic Reconnection FRC 2014
Source PDF: LANL_3D_Magnetic_Reconnection_FRC_2014.pdf
Date range: 1999-2025
Source org: LANL
Summary
This report assesses a 2014 Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) research project that bridged experimental plasma physics wit...
LANL 3D Turbulent Reconnection 2020:
Findings: LANL 3D Turbulent Reconnection 2020
Source PDF: LANL_3D_Turbulent_Reconnection_2020.pdf
Date range: 1999-2020
Source org: LANL
Summary
This technical analysis from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) examines the theoretical framework of 3D turbulent magnetic reconn...
Source Documents
Intelligence derived from 4 source documents:
- Wikipedia — Shiva Star
- kirtland.af.mil — Shiva Star photo and description
- APS DPP15, GP12.00040 — MIF Research at Shiva Star
- AFRL Fellow announcement (2009) — Degnan
Key Findings
- ▸ Entity Type: Experiment — Shiva Star is a scientific experiment or test program.
- ▸ Related Concepts: Air Force Research Laboratory, Magnetized Target Fusion, FRC, Pulsed Power, FRCHX
- ▸ ← MAGO (VNIIEF): Both used explosive pulsed power for MTF
- ▸ ← Compact Fusion Systems (NM): Reusing AFRL equipment
- ▸ ← MARAUDER: Used Shiva Star capacitor bank (9.5 MJ)
External Primary Sources (3)
Related Entities (5)
compact-fusion-systems-nm
marauder
shiva-star-weapons
prometheus-facility
mago-vniief
Network Graph
Explore shiva-star and its connections in the interactive network graph.
View in Network GraphGlossary Definition
A pulsed-power facility at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) on Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM. Originally built in the 1970s for nuclear weapons effects simulation, Shiva Star stores up to 10 megajoules of energy and discharges it in microseconds. It was used for magnetized target fusion experiments, including the AFRL Shiva Star implosion experiments that compressed FRC plasmas to high densities.
Category: Organizations View in Glossary →Source Documents (4)
Research References
Search the research archive for documents and investigations related to shiva-star.
Search Research Archive