Nuclear fusion laboratory in the US explores the use of plasma jets instead of lasers for a potential breakthrough in fusion technology
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is inviting private companies to join in the development of the Plasma Liner Experiment (PLX), a potential game-changer in the quest for grid-scale fusion energy. The deadline for companies to submit proposals for collaboration is October 4, 2025.
The PLX project, underway at LANL, is designed to make nuclear fusion a viable path towards grid-scale energy production. Unlike other fusion experiments that rely on enormous superconducting magnets or powerful, building-sized lasers, the PLX approach is more compact and affordable.
The PLX creates a collapsing shell of plasma by firing dozens of high-speed plasma jets towards a central point. This process rapidly squeezes a magnetized target, generating intense heat and pressure for fusion. This unique design could lead to the development of smaller, more efficient power plants that produce abundant, carbon-free electricity.
LANL researchers have been actively working on nuclear fusion technology, including the successful achievement of fusion ignition in an experiment that incorporated a new diagnostic platform, THOR. The THOR window system produced a fusion energy yield of 2.4±0.09 megajoules and created a self-sustaining feedback loop known as a "burning plasma."
The PLX technology can also serve as a unique testing facility, recreating extreme conditions faced by hypersonic vehicles and spacecraft re-entering the atmosphere. This makes it an invaluable tool for the aerospace and defense industries, allowing for the testing of the durability of critical components like heat shields and advanced materials.
Earlier in 2024, LANL scientists proposed the implementation of a "tungsten shotgun" to enhance fusion reactor stability. The PLX design is modular and scalable, offering potential for future advancements.
LANL collaborates with other institutions, such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in its research efforts. Over the next decade, researchers hope the PLX will prove to be a practical path to grid-scale fusion energy.
However, there are very few facilities capable of performing these kinds of tests. The search results do not contain information about which companies have the opportunity until October 4, 2025, to collaborate with researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory to advance the Plasma Liner Experiment technology to the next development stage.
Stay tuned for updates on this exciting development in the world of nuclear fusion.
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