3 ms·

I think these guys are using MagLIF (Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion). Here's an article about MagLIF research using the Z Machine at Sandia Labs: http://www.

• cpihl 12y ago
  Close but with some important differences. We've tried that approach and it has some interesting potential applications but, when it comes to building a power plant that has to last decades, we think the engineering is just too difficult. Instead of pushing on a liner that then pushes on the plasma, we directly push on the plasma with magnetic field. The engineering, while still difficult, is much easier to tackle.
  • curtis 12y ago
    Is this a purely magnetic approach? I recall recently reading about a MagLIF variant that used lasers for pre-heating.
    • cpihl 12y ago
      It is. We use electromagnets to make the plasmas, move them, and finally compress them all without moving parts, just magnetic field.