Fast Liner Experiment
Pioneered electromagnetic solid liner compression of gun-injected plasma targets.
01 Definition
LASL (Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) experiment (1977) using magnetically imploded aluminum liners to compress plasma. A direct precursor to AFRL's FRCHX (solid liner MTF) and CFS-NM's SLC (liquid metal liner). The Fast Liner also used a coaxial plasma gun for plasma injection, connecting liner and plasma gun technology threads.
02 Detailed_Analysis
The Fast Liner Experiment was an early magneto-inertial fusion concept conducted at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) in the late 1970s. The program utilized multi-megampere pulsed currents from fast capacitor banks to magnetically implode thin-walled cylindrical aluminum or copper shells (liners) in approximately one microsecond. These imploding metal liners compressed a pre-injected coaxial gun plasma to thermonuclear densities and kilovolt temperatures, establishing empirical baselines that directly informed both AFRL's solid-liner FRCHX experiment and modern commercial liner fusion concepts.
03 Key_Facts
- ▸ Conducted at Los Alamos (LASL) in the late 1970s by Sherwood/Inall.
- ▸ Employed megampere electromagnetic z-pinch forces to implode metallic liners.
- ▸ Integrated coaxial plasma guns to inject target plasma prior to implosion.
- ▸ Direct technical precursor to AFRL's Field-Reversed Configuration Liner Experiment.
04 Deep_Dive_Intelligence
Overview
The Fast Liner Experiment at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) was a 1977 experiment that used magnetically imploded aluminum liners to compress plasma for fusion. A 1977 LASL controlled-thermonuclear-research report listed both a 'fast liner experiment' and a 'gun injection experiment.'
Significance
The Fast Liner Experiment is a direct precursor to:
- AFRL FRCHX (solid aluminum liner implosion at Shiva Star)
- CFS-NM SLC (spinning liquid-metal liner, with NRL LINUS heritage)
- Slough's Fusion Driven Rocket (MIF metal liners for propulsion)
Plasma Gun Connection
The Fast Liner also used a coaxial plasma gun for plasma injection, connecting the liner and plasma gun technology threads. This is significant because it shows that LANL's compact toroid research combined both liner compression and plasma gun formation — the two technology threads that would later diverge into FRCHX (liner) and MARAUDER/HyperJet (plasma guns).
06 Related_Terms (2)
07 Related_Entities (12)
08 Timeline_Mentions (10)
NRL 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 PhysicsFoundational FRC and MTF Research at LANL
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) pioneers research into Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) and Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF), establishing the scientific pedigree for future compact fusion progr
fusion-physicsLANL FRC/MTF Research Era
Los Alamos National Laboratory pioneers research into Field-Reversed Configurations (FRCs) and Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF).
fusion-physicsSandia Phi-target Work Published
Sandia National Laboratory publishes early reports on Phi-target work, which remains a primary example of an integrated Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) experiment.
fusion-physicsLASL Fast Liner Experiment
LASL Fast Liner Experiment using magnetically imploded aluminum liners. Direct precursor to FRCHX and CFS-NM SLC. Also used coaxial plasma gun for injection.
Fusion PhysicsPPPL Compact Toruses Symposium
PPPL symposium consolidating compact toroid (FRC/spheromak) research.
fusion-researchMAGO project begins at VNIIEF (Russian nuclear weapons lab)
Russian MTF program at weapons lab. Communist Party decree. Same dual-use pattern as US.
defense-programsLLNL Beta II Compact Toroid Experiment
LLNL Beta II compact toroid experiment using coaxial plasma gun with LASL features. Second link in three-lab lineage: LANL (CTX) → LLNL (Beta II) → AFRL (MARAUDER).
Fusion PhysicsFoundational FRX Paper Published
W. T. Armstrong and others at LANL publish 'Field-reversed experiments (FRX) on compact toroids,' codifying FRC formation physics.
fusion-physicsLANL CTX Spheromak Experiment
LANL CTX using magnetized coaxial plasma gun to generate spheromaks. Foundational node of the three-lab compact toroid lineage.
Fusion Physics09 FAQ
What is Fast Liner Experiment? ▾
Why does Fast Liner Experiment matter? ▾
How does Fast Liner Experiment relate to other concepts? ▾
When did Fast Liner Experiment appear in the research timeline? ▾
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Quick_Facts
- Category
- Experiments
- Aliases
- Fast Liner Experiment, fast-liner-experiment, LASL Fast Liner, Fast Liner
- Sources
- 2
- Related Terms
- 2
- Graph Entities
- 12
- Timeline Events
- 10