, has defined its methodology for measuring and calculating the net energy gain, or Q, in sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion plasmas. This marks a significant step towards demonstrating energy gain in fusion energy development. Credit: Zap Energy
“The way we generate fusion-grade plasmas in our devices is different from other fusion technologies so this paper helps lay the groundwork for quantifying our progress,” says Uri Shumlak, Zap Energy cofounder, Chief Science Officer and lead author on the paper. Zap Energy creates fusion in a filament of plasma less than two feet long. The inset image is a high-speed camera photo of a plasma in Zap’s device. Credit: Zap Energy
“Publishing these technical details is very important. You can’t just drop a thermometer into a fusion plasma to see what’s happening, so instead we use a combination of direct and indirect observations that help give a picture of the conditions,” says Ben Levitt, Zap Energy Vice President of R&D.