Zap Energy's FuZE-3 device has reached electron pressures of up to 830 MPa, or 1.6 GPa total, in a sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch, a major milestone on the path to scientific energy gain. The device achieves this high pressure through independent control of plasma acceleration and compression.
Century's sustained average power has increased 20x to 39 kilowatts, a major step toward commercial fusion power plants using repetitive pulsed power and liquid metal energy transfer. The platform achieves record-breaking operations with 100 plasma shots at 0.2 Hz.
A new Zap research paper validates the company's sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion approach by measuring nearly isotropic neutron energies, indicating stable thermal plasma. This achievement provides a benchmark milestone for scaling fusion to higher energy yields and confidence in reaching higher performance on the FuZE-Q device.
Scientists at Zap Energy have achieved a major breakthrough in fusion technology, creating a plasma with electron temperatures of up to 37 million degrees Celsius. The company's sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch device far exceeds the previous record and offers a promising path to commercial fusion energy.
Zap Energy has developed a method to measure and calculate Q, the net energy gain, in its sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion plasmas. The company measures temperature, density, and flow velocity to determine plasma confinement duration.
The DOE's Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program supports Zap Energy's sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch technology, a promising approach to fusion energy. With $5 million in funding, Zap aims to develop a grid-ready power source and engage with local communities.