Programs
Programs glossary term

Prometheus MIF Facility

Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility.

Programs Also: Prometheus MIF Facility, prometheus-mif-facility, Prometheus, Prometheus MIF, Prometheus facility Has Dossier → 5 sources

01 Definition

Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio pulsed-power MIF. ~15 MJ to liner, ~5 us current rise-time, 7...

02 Detailed_Analysis

Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio pulsed-power MIF. ~15 MJ to liner, ~5 us current rise-time, 7... Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio pulsed-power MIF. ~15 MJ to liner, ~5 us current rise-time, 7.7 km/s shock-less implosion for 0.5 kg liner. $20M/year. Authors: J.H. Degnan (AFRL, MARAUDER veteran), C. Grabowski (AFRLSNL, FRCHX lead), B. Bauer (UNR), G.A. Wurden (LANL), W.A. Reass (LANL), P. Turchi (LANL, CFS-NM co-founder). LINEAGE: MARAUDER (Degnan, 1990s) → FRCHX (Degnan/Grabowski, 2007-2016) → CFS-NM (Turchi, 2017) → Prometheus (Degnan/Grabowski/Turchi, proposed). The same team spans the entire weapons→energy→commercial chain. ATLAS was a weapons simulation machine at Nevada Test S...

03 Key_Facts

  • → Shiva Star: Successor to Shiva Star facility
  • → MagLIF: Complementary to Sandia MagLIF
  • → Compact Fusion Systems (NM): Turchi: CFS-NM co-founder on Prometheus team
  • → MARAUDER: Degnan: MARAUDER veteran proposes next-gen facility
  • This professional dossier evaluates the career of Dr. Charles W. Nakhleh and his strategic leadership roles...

04 Deep_Dive_Intelligence

Overview

Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio pulsed-power MIF. ~15 MJ to liner, ~5 us current rise-time, 7.7 km/s shock-less implosion for 0.5 kg liner. $20M/year. Authors: J.H. Degnan (AFRL, MARAUDER veteran), C. Grabowski (AFRLSNL, FRCHX lead), B. Bauer (UNR), G.A. Wurden (LANL), W.A. Reass (LANL), P. Turchi (LANL, CFS-NM co-founder). LINEAGE: MARAUDER (Degnan, 1990s) → FRCHX (Degnan/Grabowski, 2007-2016) → CFS-NM (Turchi, 2017) → Prometheus (Degnan/Grabowski/Turchi, proposed). The same team spans the entire weapons→energy→commercial chain. ATLAS was a weapons simulation machine at Nevada Test Site.

Entity Type: Program — Prometheus MIF Facility is a government or defense program/initiative.


Network Relationships

Prometheus MIF Facility connects to 4 entities in the intelligence network:

Experiments (2):

  • Shiva Star: Successor to Shiva Star facility
  • MagLIF: Complementary to Sandia MagLIF

Organisations (1):

Programs (1):

  • MARAUDER: Degnan: MARAUDER veteran proposes next-gen facility

Research Findings

Prometheus MIF Facility 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](/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 ...

ARPA-E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019:

Findings: ARPA E ALPHA Fusion Retrospective 2019

Source PDF: [ARPA-E_ALPHA_Fusion_Retrospective_2019.pdf](/archive/ARPA_E_ALPHA_Fusion_Retrospective_2019) Date range: 1956-2019 Source org: LANL

Summary

Produced by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E and Booz Allen Hamilton, this 2019 retrospective reviews th...

Charles Nakhleh Nuclear Physics Stewardship 2021:

Findings: Charles Nakhleh Nuclear Physics Stewardship 2021

Source PDF: [Charles_Nakhleh_Nuclear_Physics_Stewardship_2021.pdf](/archive/Charles_Nakhleh_Nuclear_Physics_Stewardship_2021) Date range: 1992-2025 Source org: LANL

Summary

This professional dossier evaluates the career of Dr. Charles W. Nakhleh and his strategic leadership roles...

HyperJet MagnetizedPlasmaJets 2021:

Findings: Hyperjet Magnetizedplasmajets 2021

Source PDF: [HyperJet_MagnetizedPlasmaJets_2021.pdf](/archive/HyperJet_MagnetizedPlasmaJets_2021) Date range: 1961-2021 Source org: LANL

Summary

This 2021 final technical report from HyperJet Fusion Corporation details the development and experimental characterization of magnetiz...


Source Documents

Intelligence derived from 2 source documents:

  • OSTI.gov 1062697 — Prometheus white paper
  • APS DPP 2008 — BP6.21 (Degnan, FRC translation experiments)

06 Related_Terms (2)

07 Related_Entities (7)

08 Timeline_Mentions (10)

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
1983

Reagan launches SDI — Shiva Star re-directed to 'Star Wars'

SDI directed energy: x-ray laser, FEL, NPB, Brilliant Pebbles. Shiva Star → MARAUDER precursor.

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
2007

FRCHX Program at Shiva Star

The Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX) at AFRL Shiva Star attempts to compress FRCs using magnetically imploded solid liners.

defense-programs
2007

FRCHX Operations Begin

The Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX) begins at AFRL Shiva Star to demonstrate FRC compression by solid liners.

defense-programs
2007

FRCHX Design and Assembly Begins at AFRL

The Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX) begins at Shiva Star, leveraging AFRL's pulsed-power expertise.

defense-programs
2007

FRCHX Design and Assembly

The Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX) begins assembly at AFRL's Shiva Star facility.

fusion-physics
2007

FRCHX Integrated System Tests

The Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX) is conducted at AFRL's Shiva Star facility, attempting end-to-end MTF demonstration.

defense-programs
2007

FRCHX Design and Assembly Begins

The Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX) begins assembly at AFRL's Shiva Star facility to test integrated liner compression.

defense-programs
View Full Timeline →

09 FAQ

What is Prometheus MIF Facility?
Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility. 60-MA machine based on ATLAS technology (mothballed 36 kV facility in Nevada desert). Goal: Q=1 (DT equivalent) low-convergence ratio pulsed-power MIF. ~15 MJ to liner, ~5 us current rise-time, 7...
Why does Prometheus MIF Facility matter?
Proposed next-generation pulsed power MIF facility.
How does Prometheus MIF Facility relate to other concepts?
Prometheus MIF Facility is closely related to Shiva Star, Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF). These relationships are documented in the research glossary and cross-referenced with primary source documents.
When did Prometheus MIF Facility appear in the research timeline?
Prometheus MIF Facility is referenced in 10 timeline events, including "MAGO project begins at VNIIEF (Russian nuclear weapons lab)" (1979). The timeline provides chronological context for the development and application of this concept.
Which entities are associated with Prometheus MIF Facility?
7 entities are associated with Prometheus MIF Facility in the network graph, including Air Force Research Laboratory, Dr. James H. Degnan, Paul M. Koloc. Explore the network graph for full relationship mapping.
Is there a detailed dossier for Prometheus MIF Facility?
Yes, Prometheus MIF Facility has a comprehensive intelligence dossier with deep dive analysis, source documents, and network connections. View the full dossier for complete intelligence assessment.