General Fusion reports electron temperatures exceeding 1 keV

[Marlin]

General Fusion reports electron temperatures exceeding 1 keV

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-10-09/article-8478/general-fusion-reports-electron-temperatures-exceeding-1-kev/

[Core Content]

General Fusion reached electron temperatures exceeding 1 keV on its Lawson Machine 26 demonstration device. The company used Thomson scattering and extreme ultraviolet diagnostics to confirm the results during peak compression. Researchers conducted the measurements in partnership with the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

The threshold validates the company's magnetized target fusion design, which employs low-speed compression via an electromagnetic liner instead of superconducting magnets or high-power lasers. General Fusion plans to upgrade the machine to reach 10 keV as it works toward commercial energy goals.

General Fusion announced it has achieved compressional plasma heating that produced electron temperatures exceeding 1 keV, measured using Thomson scattering in collaboration with the U.K. Atomic Energy Authority.

The 1 keV threshold is regarded as a key milestone, because it demonstrates the ability to produce and control fusion-relevant plasma temperatures. It was first reported on the Soviet T3 tokamak, announced in 1968 and independently verified by U.K. physicists using Thomson scattering the following year. While not the first fusion company to achieve this threshold, it is a first for General Fusion's unique magnetized target fusion approach, which uses low-speed compression.

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-10-09/article-8478/general-fusion-reports-electron-temperatures-exceeding-1-kev/