Pacific Fusion finds a cheaper way to make its fusion reactor work

Pacific Fusion is advancing a more cost-effective approach to fusion power by refining its pulser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) technology. Unlike traditional ICF methods that use lasers to initiate fuel pellet compression, Pacific Fusion employs massive electrical pulses to generate a magnetic field that rapidly compresses the fuel pellet, heating it sufficiently for fusion. A key challenge has been the need for a preliminary "kickstart" using lasers and magnets to preheat the fuel, which adds complexity, cost, and maintenance burdens. In recent experiments at Sandia National Laboratory, Pacific Fusion demonstrated that subtle design changes to the aluminum casing around the fuel pellet allow a small amount of magnetic field to leak into the fuel before compression, effectively preheating it without lasers. This innovation significantly reduces the system's complexity and cost by potentially eliminating the need for expensive laser preheating, which can exceed $100 million. The adjustments involve varying the thickness of the aluminum casing, a manufacturing process comparable in precision to producing .22 caliber bullet