First Light Fusion strengthens relationship with US-based research lab Sandia

Oxfordshire-based First Light Fusion has strengthened its relationship with the US government-funded research organisation Sandia, having been awarded two additional shots (experiments) on its 'Z Machine' next year (2025) on top of its first later this month (February).

Funded by the US Department of Energy, Sandia allows the machine - the most powerful pulsed power facility in the world - to be used for multiple high-energy density research fields. It fires around 200 shots per year.

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First Light is the only privately-funded fusion company to have this unprecedented access to the machine in New Mexico. Its amplifier technology can amplify and increase a small amount of pressure from the impact of a projectile to generate the pressures required for fusion.

Rather than use expensive lasers, First Light says it uses a projectile fired from a pulsed power machine as the driver.

"We are truly excited to deepen our partnership with Sandia and continue to access the Z Machine," said Dr Nick Hawker, the founder and CEO of First Light Fusion.

"There’s no comparable facility anywhere on the planet. Having access to it is phenomenally important for us as we continue to explore the limits of what our unique amplifier technology can do.

"Practically, leveraging the Z Machine allows us to test our amplifiers at pressures we can’t access anywhere else.

"We know our amplifier technology works for fusion, and we know through our simulation platform what we think our amplifiers can achieve. Working with Sandia will allow us to demonstrate it.

"The better our amplifier technology works, the more effective in terms of cost and engineering the pathway becomes to commercialising fusion through the development of a power plant.

"The physics of inertial fusion works; ignition – the process of self-sustaining a fusion reaction to generate more energy – has been proven. The challenge and focus now is being able to build the technology to commercialise it," he added.