Focused Energy, a fusion power startup, has signed an agreement to secure two of the world's most powerful lasers, specifically designed for their critical role in nuclear fusion research.
This strategic acquisition, made in partnership with leading laser manufacturer Amplitude, marks a significant step forward in Focused Energy's mission to achieve inertial confinement fusion (ICF).
The inertial confinement fusion technology offers a potential solution to the world's growing energy needs with a limitless source of clean power.
"These laser systems will serve as the technological foundation from which Focused Energy will build the modular laser arrays necessary for a fusion pilot plant capable of supplying clean energy to the grid," said the startup in a press release.
Focused Energy's inertial confinement fusion process utilizes many high-power lasers directed at a small fuel pellet.
The lasers' energy compresses the pellet, increasing its density and temperature to extreme levels. This triggers a fusion reaction, mirroring the process that occurs within the sun, and releases a substantial amount of energy.
This method has already achieved a historic milestone by demonstrating net-positive fusion power in 2022, thanks to a breakthrough by the US' National Ignition Facility (NIF).
This net-positive power means the fusion reaction generates more energy than the lasers used to start it.
However, the path to commercially viable fusion power still presents challenges that scientists and engineers are trying to overcome.
To address the challenges, Focused Energy is making an investment in laser technology. The two lasers they are acquiring from Amplitude are classified as kilo-joule class and are designed for high energy output and repetition rates.
These characteristics are vital for conducting the experiments needed to advance fusion research, particularly for optimizing the compression of deuterium-tritium fuel pellets.
"Under Focused Energy's direct drive laser fusion approach, lasers compress and then ignite millimeter-scale deuterium/tritium fusion fuel targets," explained the press release.
The new lasers will enable Focused Energy to investigate the complexities of laser performance and fusion target design.
A notable feature of these lasers is their ability to fire a laser pulse every 60 seconds. This allows for a rapid experimental process.
Focused Energy is constructing a new facility in the San Francisco Bay Area to house these lasers. This facility, expected to be operational within the next two years, will serve as a center for fusion research.
"Once commercial fusion is reached, three soda cans worth of deuterium/tritium fusion fuel will be able to power a city the size of San Francisco for a day," emphasized Fusion Energy.
Focused Energy's direct drive laser fusion approach is considered one of the most promising paths to achieving commercially viable fusion energy.
Apart from Focused Energy, several other startups are working on developing a nuclear fusion reactor.
One of them is MIT spin-off Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), which recently announced that it will build the world's first grid-scale commercial fusion power plant in Virginia.