An Overview of the Development Pathway for High-field Axisymmetric Magnetic Mirrors at Realta Fusion

Realta Fusion is advancing the axisymmetric magnetic mirror fusion energy concept working in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison where the currently operational Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror (WHAM) experiment is located, a simple mirror using two, 17 T HTS magnets made by Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Following WHAM, Realta Fusion will build a commercial scale, high-field simple mirror called Anvil. This device will serve as a key remaining physics risk-retirement platform operating at full scale, with the primary deliverable to demonstrate the stable sustainment of “end-plug” plasma conditions needed for the construction of an axisymmetric tandem mirror fusion pilot plant. Anvil-class devices also have other potential use cases, such as a deuterium-tritium (DT) volumetric neutron source (VNS) for the testing materials and blanket modules. Following the full-scale demonstration of end-plug plasma conditions in Anvil, two end-plugs will be connected to an extended central cell to construct Hammir, an axisymmetric tandem mirror fusion pilot plant (FPP). Hammir will be designed to meet or exceed the requirements for a commercial FPP as defined in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report “Bringing Fusion to the U.S. Grid” by demonstrating an electric gain Q_e > 1 while producing net-electricity P_e,out > 50 MWe for at least three hours continuously.