Facilities
Facilities glossary term

Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility

Pioneered liner implosion diagnostics critical to modern Magnetized Target Fusion.

Facilities Also: Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility, pegasus-pulsed-power-facility, Pegasus II, Pegasus II Pulsed Power Facility Has Dossier → 0 sources

01 Definition

A Los Alamos National Laboratory pulsed-power facility used for high-energy-density physics, liner implosion, and magnetized target fusion experiments.

02 Detailed_Analysis

The Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility was an experimental high-energy-density plasma facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. It drove solid-liner and plasma implosions via heavy capacitor banks to test hydrodynamic behavior and magnetic flux compression, acting as a critical bridge in US magnetized target fusion research.

03 Key_Facts

  • Operated at Los Alamos National Laboratory for pulsed-power HEDP
  • Conducted solid and plasma liner implosions for fusion targets
  • Key component of LANL pulsed-power infrastructure alongside Atlas

04 Deep_Dive_Intelligence

Overview

LANL pulsed-power facility used for high-energy-density plasma and liner implosion experiments supporting magnetized target fusion research. Pegasus was part of the LANL HEDP infrastructure alongside Atlas and Colt.

Entity Type: Experiment — Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility is a scientific experiment or test program.


Research Findings

Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility appears in 10 research analysis documents:

AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011:

Findings: AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011

Source PDF: [AFRL_FRCHX_Plasma_Lifetime_2011.pdf](/archive/AFRL_FRCHX_Plasma_Lifetime_2011) 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...

AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011:

Findings: AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011

Source PDF: [AFRL_FRCHX_Plasma_Lifetime_2011.pdf](/archive/AFRL_FRCHX_Plasma_Lifetime_2011) 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...

AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011:

Findings: AFRL FRCHX Plasma Lifetime 2011

Source PDF: [AFRL_FRCHX_Plasma_Lifetime_2011.pdf](/archive/AFRL_FRCHX_Plasma_Lifetime_2011) 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...

AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016:

Findings: AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016

Source PDF: [AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016.pdf](/archive/AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016) 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 ...

AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016:

Findings: AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016

Source PDF: [AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016.pdf](/archive/AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016) 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 ...


Source Documents

Intelligence derived from 1 source documents:

06 Related_Terms (3)

07 Related_Entities (9)

08 Timeline_Mentions (10)

1975

Foundational 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-physics
1975

LANL FRC/MTF Research Era

Los Alamos National Laboratory pioneers research into Field-Reversed Configurations (FRCs) and Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF).

fusion-physics
1977

Sandia 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-physics
1977

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 Physics
1979

MAGO project begins at VNIIEF (Russian nuclear weapons lab)

Russian MTF program at weapons lab. Communist Party decree. Same dual-use pattern as US.

defense-programs
1990

MARAUDER program begins — AFRL fires compact toroid plasmoids as weapons

Shiva Star facility. 100 billion g acceleration. Explicitly NOT fusion. Same facility as FRCHX. The critical link.

defense-programs
1993

MARAUDER (August 1993): USAF compact toroid weapon, 100 billion g acceleration, Shiva Star, went dark mid-1990s

USAF Phillips Lab compact toroid weapon. 100 billion g acceleration. 9.5 MJ Shiva Star. 'Not a fusion program' — weapons. Physics identical to FRC. Went dark mid-1990s. Lineage: SHIVA I → MARAUDER → F

uap-research
1994

Joint US-Russian MAGO MTF experiment begins

LANL-VNIIEF joint magnetized target fusion experiment using explosive pulsed power.

fusion-research
1996

US-Russian MAGO Collaboration

Los Alamos and VNIIEF conduct joint explosive-pulsed-power-driven MAGO experiments to investigate Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF).

historical-context
1999

MTF Program Termination Threat

Richard Siemon reports to FESAC that the Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) program at LANL faces imminent funding termination.

historical-context
View Full Timeline →

09 FAQ

What is Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility?
A Los Alamos National Laboratory pulsed-power facility used for high-energy-density physics, liner implosion, and magnetized target fusion experiments.
Why does Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility matter?
Pioneered liner implosion diagnostics critical to modern Magnetized Target Fusion.
How does Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility relate to other concepts?
Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility is closely related to Atlas Pulsed Power Facility, Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF), FRCHX. These relationships are documented in the research glossary and cross-referenced with primary source documents.
When did Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility appear in the research timeline?
Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility is referenced in 10 timeline events, including "Foundational FRC and MTF Research at LANL" (1975). The timeline provides chronological context for the development and application of this concept.
Which entities are associated with Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility?
9 entities are associated with Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility in the network graph, including Dr. Glen A. Wurden, FRCHX Experiment, Dr. Matthew Domonkos. Explore the network graph for full relationship mapping.
Is there a detailed dossier for Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility?
Yes, Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility has a comprehensive intelligence dossier with deep dive analysis, source documents, and network connections. View the full dossier for complete intelligence assessment.

Quick_Facts

Category
Facilities
Aliases
Pegasus Pulsed Power Facility, pegasus-pulsed-power-facility, Pegasus II, Pegasus II Pulsed Power Facility
Sources
0
Related Terms
3
Graph Entities
9
Timeline Events
10