Julong-2 Pulsed Power ICF Facility

Julong-2 (Chinese: 聚龙-2, meaning 'Gathering Dragon 2') is a 50 mega-ampere (MA) pulsed-power Z-pinch inertial confinement fusion (ICF) driver at the China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP) in Mianyang. Julong-2 is one of the world's most powerful pulsed power facilities, comparable to the US Sandia Z Machine.

Key aspects of Julong-2:

1. 50 MA capability: At 50 MA, Julong-2 is among the most powerful pulsed power drivers in the world. The US Sandia Z Machine operates at approximately 26 MA. The high current enables powerful Z-pinch compression of plasma for ICF and weapons physics experiments.

2. Z-pinch ICF: Julong-2 uses the Z-pinch approach to ICF, where a powerful electrical current creates a magnetic field that compresses a plasma column (or wire array) to extreme densities and temperatures. This approach is complementary to laser ICF (Shenguang-IV) and magnetic confinement (EAST, BEST, CFETR).

3. Dual-use applications:

• Weapons physics simulation: Z-pinch ICF is used to simulate nuclear weapons physics, particularly the radiation-hydrodynamics of nuclear explosions
• Z-FFR driver: Julong-2 technology is directly relevant to the Z-FFR (Z-pinch Fusion-Fission Reactor) concept, which uses a Z-pinch driver to create fusion neutrons for a fission blanket
• Materials science: The extreme conditions created by Z-pinch can be used to study materials under high energy density conditions

4. Comparison to US Sandia Z Machine:

• The US Sandia Z Machine (~26 MA) is the world's most powerful operational Z-pinch, but is primarily a weapons stewardship facility
• Julong-2 at 50 MA would exceed the Z Machine's current capability if fully operational
• China is effectively pursuing Z-pinch technology that the US has kept in the weapons domain, with an energy production goal (Z-FFR)
• This represents a significant technology development pathway

5. CAEP Mianyang ecosystem: Julong-2 is part of the comprehensive CAEP Mianyang pulsed power ecosystem:

• Julong-2 (50 MA) — primary Z-pinch driver
• Qiangguang-1 (1 MA) — supporting pulsed power
• PTS (8-10 MA) — Primary Test Stand
• Shenguang-III and Shenguang-IV — laser ICF
• This concentration of pulsed power and ICF capability is unique outside the US

6. Connection to Z-FFR: Julong-2 is the technology basis for the Z-FFR (Z-pinch Fusion-Fission Reactor) concept. Z-FFR would use a Z-pinch driver similar to Julong-2 to create fusion neutrons for a subcritical fission blanket. The environmental impact assessment for Z-FFR began in March 2025, with superconducting material orders in December 2025.

7. Strategic significance:

• Julong-2 demonstrates China's comprehensive ICF capability across both laser and Z-pinch approaches
• The 50 MA capability exceeds the US Sandia Z Machine, potentially giving China a Z-pinch advantage
• The dual-use nature (weapons + energy) is amplified by China's Military-Civil Fusion policy
• Julong-2 technology directly supports the Z-FFR energy reactor concept
• The facility represents a significant investment in Chinese high energy density physics

Julong-2 is a critical component of China's ICF and pulsed power capability. The 50 MA capability, combined with the Z-FFR energy application, demonstrates China's commitment to pursuing Z-pinch technology for both weapons stewardship and energy production — a pathway that the US has not pursued for energy.