LASL Fast Liner Experiment
Established the experimental foundation for modern Magneto-Inertial Fusion (MIF) concepts.
01 Definition
A 1977 Los Alamos experiment that utilized magnetically imploded cylindrical liners to compress pre-heated plasma.
02 Detailed_Analysis
Conducted in 1977 at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL), the Fast Liner Experiment was an early Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) demonstration that used multi-megampere current pulses to rapidly implode thin cylindrical aluminum liners. The process adiabatically compressed an embedded, pre-heated coaxial gun-injected plasma, serving as a foundational precursor to subsequent military and civilian magneto-inertial fusion architectures.
03 Key_Facts
- ▸ Conducted at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in 1977.
- ▸ Used pulsed electromagnetic forces to implode thin metallic shells.
- ▸ Demonstrated early concepts of magnetized target plasma compression.
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 (3)
07 Related_Entities (5)
08 Timeline_Mentions (4)
LASL 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 PhysicsAtlas Pulsed Power Facility Commissioned
Atlas commissioned at LANL. Received Shiva Star technology (capacitors, rail-gap switches). Supports SSP. Turchi liner experiments. Later relocated to Nevada Test Site.
Classified ProgramsNASA Fusion Driven Rocket Concept
NASA NIAC funds FDR by Slough at MSNW. MIF metal liners for propulsion. Track 1 of Slough three-track network.
PropulsionCompact Fusion Systems (Santa Fe) founded — FRCHX commercial continuation
CFS-NM commercializes AFRL liner compression. Team has AFRL/NRL SLC experience. ARPA-E funded equipment transfer.
fusion-research09 FAQ
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Quick_Facts
- Category
- Experiments
- Aliases
- LASL Fast Liner Experiment, lasl-fast-liner-experiment, Fast Liner Experiment, LASL Fast Liner
- Sources
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- Related Terms
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- Graph Entities
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- Timeline Events
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