20-03-2025
Fusion company carries out record-breaking experiment
A record-breaking experiment has been successfully carried out by an Oxfordshire fusion energy company at a facility in the US.
First Light Fusion, based in Yarnton, achieved the highest quartz pressure ever on the Z Machine, an electromagnetic wave generator, at Sandia National Laboratories.
The machine electromagnetically launches projectiles to higher velocities than any other facility.
The First Light Fusion team at Sandia National Laboratories in the US (Image: First Light Fusion) These are used to impact samples of material in order to test their properties at extreme pressures.
First Light used its amplifier technology to reach an output pressure of 3.67 terapascal (TPa), equivalent to 10 times the pressure at the Earth's centre.
This doubles the previous record of 1.85 TPa the company set in February 2024 during its first experiment on the machine.
Dr Jon Skidmore, principal scientist at First Light Fusion, said: "This significant breakthrough further validates First Light Fusion's amplifier technology on the world's most powerful pulsed power facility.
The First Light Fusion team at Sandia National Laboratories in the US (Image: First Light Fusion) "The concept of target-based power amplification successfully demonstrated on the Z machine can enable a simpler and more cost-effective route to commercial fusion across multiple drivers.
"We look forward to continuing to push research boundaries through our collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories."
Dr Greg Rochau, director of pulsed power sciences at Sandia National Laboratories, added: "This tremendous achievement is a testament to the capabilities of First Light Fusion and a good example of how these collaborations are beneficial to the company, Sandia, our national security programme, and the scientific community."
