Fusion/Fusion-Fission Hybrids

The small, 5 MW-scale conceptual reactor uses a dense plasma focus device that aims to accomplish fusion conditions through an intense pulsed electrical discharge across two coaxial cylindrical electrodes, which induces a magnetic field that quickly collapses, driving plasmoid ions to fusion conditions through heating by an opposite-flowing electron beam. Direct power conversion is envisaged for this fusion reactor that is to be fueled by hydrogen and boron-11.

General Fusion's Magnetized Target Fusion system uses a spherical vessel with a molten lead-lithium mixture pumped to form a vortex along its inner walls. Pulses of magnetically confined plasma are injected into the vortex, and an array of synchronized pistons drive a pressure wave into the sphere, compressing the plasma to fusion conditions. The molten lead-lithium mixture carries the heat to produce electricity, and the process is repeated.

Hydrogen-boron fusion is achieved using two powerful lasers in rapid bursts, which apply precise non-linear forces to compress the magnetically confined hydrogen and boron-11 nuclei together.