INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Pacific Fusion made a splash in October when it emerged from stealth with a $900 million Series A and a founding team led by a scientist who
is most widely known for his work on the Human Genome Project.Now, the startup is revealing the physics that underpin its plans to build a
follows a similar path to fusion power as the National Ignition Facility, the Department of Energy research program that was the first to
demonstrate that a controlled fusion reaction could generate more power than was required to ignite it
The approach is called inertial confinement, which means the fuel is squeezed to the point where atoms start fusing with one another,
releasing tremendous amounts of power in the process.But where the NIF uses lasers to compress the fuel pellet, Pacific Fusion plans to send
by co-founder Keith LeChien and others
Together, the pulser modules produce 2 terawatts for 100 nanoseconds
electricity to the reaction chamber in the center.Image Credits:Pacific FusionEach pulser module contains repeating elements
a short-term energy storage device.Ensuring that the electricity from each brick reaches the fuel pellet at the same time requires exact
down cables from each pulser module to the reaction chamber, which will be kept at vacuum
There, the surges will converge around the target, applying electromagnetic force that will squeeze it until fusion occurs.So far, Pacific
That allows the company to unlock the next portion of their $900 million funding round, which will go toward building a complete pulse
Large rounds doled out in tranches are common in biotech, though not in other sectors
and COO Carrie von Muench, who were all familiar with its use in biotech.Pacific Fusion also recently hired Sachin Desai as general counsel,
the company exclusively told A Technology NewsRoom
