Avalanche’s desktop fusion reactor delivers blistering-hot plasma

Avalanche Energy announced on March 18, 2024, that its prototype desktop fusion reactor, the "Heliotron-SC," successfully heated plasma to over 10 million degrees Celsius. This achievement marks a significant step for the company's approach to fusion energy, which aims to achieve net energy gain using a compact, lower-cost device. The Heliotron-SC utilizes a spherical tokamak design, a configuration known for its potential to achieve high plasma confinement. The company stated that the plasma reached temperatures exceeding 10 million degrees Celsius for a duration of 100 milliseconds. This temperature is a critical threshold for achieving sustained fusion reactions. Avalanche Energy's goal is to develop a commercially viable fusion power source that is significantly smaller and more affordable than traditional large-scale fusion projects. The company has previously demonstrated plasma confinement in its earlier prototypes. This latest milestone suggests progress towards their objective of demonstrating net energy gain from fusion. Avalanche Energy is a privately funded startup, and this development could attract further investment in the burgeoning fusion energy sector.