Pacific Fusion and General Atomics Team Up to Deliver Breakthroughs in Inertial Fusion Energy

Expanding Collaboration Accelerates Path to Clean, Sustainable Fusion Energy

/EIN News/ -- FREMONT, Calif., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Fusion Corporation, which raised a >$900M series A in 2024 to power the world with abundant, affordable, and clean energy, is collaborating with fusion technology leader General Atomics (GA) to test a production-scale, first-of-its-kind pulser module — a system designed to store electrical energy and deliver it in powerful, precisely controlled bursts to ultimately drive small containers of fuel to high yield (>100 megajoule) fusion conditions.

This module is a next-generation impedance-matched Marx generator (IMG), co-invented by Pacific Fusion cofounder and Chief Technology Officer Keith LeChien. When combined, multiple IMG modules form a pulser – a system that generates a powerful electric current to compress a fusion target to the high temperatures and pressures needed for fusion.

Pacific Fusion’s pulser design effort was supported by engineers from General Atomics, a global leader in fabricating cutting-edge fusion ignition targets. The goal is to achieve net facility energy gain, where the fusion energy output exceeds the energy stored in the capacitors. This milestone has never been reached and is the next major technological step in advancing fusion power using Pacific Fusion’s approach.

“We’re delivering the most power-dense, line replaceable unit in fusion history using modular components that can be mass-manufactured at low cost. This provides an engineering foundation for fusion energy systems that deliver reliable, firm, and affordable power and heat,” LeChien said.

“With our long history of fusion innovation, General Atomics offers a powerful launchpad for fast-moving startups like Pacific Fusion,” said Dr. Anantha Krishnan, senior vice president of the General Atomics Energy Group. “Our scientists bring deep expertise in computational modeling design, fusion science, and engineering—gained through decades of operating the Department of Energy’s DIII-D National Fusion Facility. We’re excited to use our world-leading capabilities to collaborate with Pacific Fusion on these innovative experiments.”

Each pulser module will deliver about 2TW of peak power in a single fast pulse, or about four times more power than the average power provided by the entire US electrical grid – all from a device that fits in the footprint of a shipping container. Roughly 150 of these modules are required for PF’s Demonstration System, designed to deliver net facility energy gain and unlock abundant firm power.

Pacific Fusion has already made major technological strides toward this mission. Last winter at its Fremont Test Center, the team successfully demonstrated that the core components of each module met performance standards—completing more than 100 consecutive tests in a single day to validate system reliability.

GA has supported Pacific Fusion’s since its founding, offering critical guidance in system analysis, engineering, prototype testing, scaling, and infrastructure development. The relationship is now evolving to include collaboration on full-scale fusion power plant components, such as system operations, cryogenics, manufacturing at production scale, and target fabrication.

This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing next-generation fusion test facilities. By uniting Pacific Fusion’s bold approach with GA’s legacy of scientific and engineering leadership, the partnership aims to bring fusion energy closer to commercial reality—a future where clean, virtually limitless power revolutionizes the way we energize the planet.

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About Pacific Fusion 
Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with a mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy. The company is rapidly designing and building a pulsed magnetic fusion system to achieve net facility gain (more fusion energy output than stored energy input). In parallel, they are developing key components that will be required to build and scale affordable fusion systems. Pacific Fusion is based in Fremont, CA.

About General Atomics
Since the dawn of the atomic age, General Atomics innovations have advanced the state of the art across the full spectrum of science and technology – from nuclear energy and defense to medicine and high-performance computing. Behind a talented global team of scientists, engineers, and professionals, GA’s unique experience and capabilities continue to deliver safe, sustainable, economical, and innovative solutions to meet growing global demands.

Andrew James
                    General Atomics
                    8582872636
                    andrew.james@ga.com
                    
                    Alex Doniach
                    Pacific Fusion Corporation
                    alex.doniach@pacificfusion.com