General Fusion Hits 12 Million Degree Milestone in Plasma Test

The 1 keV electron temperature milestone represents a critical proof-of-concept for the firm's Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) technology. By compressing plasma inside a metal wall, the company aims to reduce the complexity and power requirements typically associated with fusion reactors. To ensure the accuracy of the data, General Fusion collaborated with the UK Atomic Energy Authority, utilizing a Thomson scattering system to verify the temperature readings recorded during peak compression.

Chief Executive Officer Greg Twinney characterized the success as a vindication of a strategy developed over two decades. The company’s roadmap now turns toward reaching 10 keV—or approximately 100 million degrees Celsius—with machine upgrades already underway. While the company faces the inherent scientific and financial hurdles of commercializing fusion power, this achievement marks the first of three major technical goals for the LM26 program, with the ultimate objective of producing net fusion energy by the end of 2028.