COLLOQUIUM: The Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor
Dr. Thomas McGuire
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Skunkworks is developing a compact fusion reactor concept, CFR. The novel magnetic cusp configuration would allow for stable plasmas in a geometry amenable to economical power plants and power sources. The details of the CFR configuration will be discussed along with a status of the current plasma confinement experiments underway at Lockheed. The presentation will also touch on the potential of a fast development path and challenges to bring such a device to fruition.
pdxpyro wrote:I emailed Carol Ann Austin, organizer of the colloquium to see if it would be streamed via the Princeton Media Central site. Her reply was:
"Hi. Yes, it will probably be streamed, as long as the speaker signs the PPPL waiver forms.
Thanks."
Thanks pdxpyro! That sounds encouraging, so lets hope McGuire agrees to the webcast.
The talk was 75 minutes, and ended at 5:30 pm EDT. The reactor is a cusp defined central zone, mirror outer zone to facilitate recirculation, and at the ends to constrain losses at the axis. So, I would call it a modified Polywell. Some discussion was glossed over for the cusp coil support protection, and I am reminded of Polywell and what EMC2 learned. LM is at the science stage and not at the point where scaling is aggressive, but they are not developing new physics was the assertion. There are plasma tests being done where simulation is not possible. Loss areas were mentioned, but the talk was restricted from proprietary requirements.
I am sure others will provide superior reviews, but the above is my attempt. As a comparison, I would suggest Polywell at this point is better developed, but given sparse details on the LM project, I could be mistaken.
Counting the days to commercial fusion. It is not that long now.
pdxpyro wrote:I've sent an email to the folks at Princeton asking when it will be posted on the Princeton Media Central site. I'll update as soon as I get a reply.
Response was: "The file will be available this Monday afternoon."
One vast difference between Polywell and LM's fusion machine (CFR) is that Polywell uses high voltage to drive fusion, but for LM's CFR, they think that heat of fusion will drive the reaction after initial startup. They do this by retaining the fusion byproducts with recirculation aided by the outer mirror magnets.
So, it looks like the power transference will be thermal, possible with molten salt, but those details are to be developed down the road. McGuire's talk devoted a lot to the idea of how to achieve high project development speed.
Counting the days to commercial fusion. It is not that long now.
