Fusion, built from tech that already works
Our machine directly drives plasma rotation, suppressing the instabilities that have limited mirror machines for decades.
Real Hardware
38+ years building high voltage pulsed power systems
We don’t have to invent the power electronics. We manufacture them.
Experimental test-setup for a new type of electric propulsion, the magneto-inductive plasma engine), at the Space Propellants Environmental Facility (SPEF) at Edwards AFB, AFRL. Plasma speeds (exhaust velocity) reached up to 40 km/s.
Inside view of one 20 MW, 10 kHz inverter cabinet at DTI, originally built for electromagnetic launch.
Inside view of three 20 MW, 10 kHz inverter cabinet at DTI, originally built for electromagnetic launch.
Inside the Conex container housing three 20 MW inverters and the electromagnetic launch barrel.
Real Physics
A magnetic mirror is a fusion device with a weak magnetic field in the center, and strong magnetic field in the ends, creating a “magnetic bottle” that traps particles between the two high-field “mirrors”.
Magnetic mirrors were abandoned in the United States in the late 1980’s due to technological limitations
Dr. Marcel P.J. Gaudreau, P.E. co-founder of Mirror Fusion, led several campaigns on TARA:
M. P. J. Gaudreau, et. al. “TARA control, data acquisition and analysis system,” Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research 1982, Proc. 9th IAEA Int. Conf., Baltimore, 1982 (IAEA, Vienna, 1983).
M. P. J. Gaudreau, et. al. “Detailed electrical characterization of the TARA neutral beam injector system,” 11th Symposium on Fusion Engineering. 1985; 1:187-96.
M. P. J. Gaudreau, et. al. “TARA 24 MVA Magnet System,” Fusion Technology 1986. Proceedings of the Fourteenth Symposium.
M. P. J. Gaudreau, et. al. “Operating Large Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion Research Facilities,” Plasma Fusion Center, Cambridge, MA 1987
R. S. Post, M. Gerver, J. Kesner, J. H. Irby, B. G. Lane, M. E. Mauel, B. D. McVey, A. Ram, E. Sevillano, D. L. Smatlak, D. K. Smith, J. D. Sullivan, J. Trulsen, A. Bers, J. W. Coleman, M. P. J. Gaudreau, “Tara and Constance B Mirror Confinement Experiments and Theory,” Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research 1984, Proc. 10th IAEA Int. Conf., London, Vol. II, p. 285 (IAEA, Vienna, 1985).
Increasing complexity of the machines (minimum B coils, tandem end cells) tried to compensate for the tech limitations of the time, but ultimately rendered mirror machines impractical
The physics is well known, and was waiting for the technology to enable it
TARA Tandem Mirror at MIT (1981-1986)
Real Fusion
