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January 2026
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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
Matthew Thompson, Vidya Nalajala, Brian Kelleher, Steven Brantley, Clemente Parga, Alex Cheung, Matt Aubuchon, Brian Nelson, Micki Acks, Skyler Ashrun, Steven Bagdy, Allan Basile, Brianne Beers, Clyde Joshua Beers, Kenneth Blackwell, Haley Blanck, Felipe Caliari, Hannah Carlson, Michael Christenson, Thomas Connolly, Steven Cortez, Justin Costa-Greger, Christopher Dion, Sean Gagnon, Harpreet Grover, Corwin Hansen, Kaleb Hatfield, Santtu Joni Eemeli Huotilainen, Steve Jurovich, Scott Korlann, Brad Maynard, Santhosh Kumar Muniyal Krishna, Marcus Parry, Wyatt Pauley, Bill Pedler, Tyler Rhodes, David Sanabria Diaz, Whitney Schoenthal, Tim Schwartz, Geoff Staines, James Stuber, Zofia Toth, Nathan Tripp, Bruce Wakefield, Ben Watson, Chen Ying, Cassidy Zehner
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 82 | Number 1 | January-February 2026 | Pages 32-44
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2025.2532331
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Zap Energy is developing the sheared-flow-stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch concept for commercial applications. The SFS Z-pinch relies on plasma self-organization, in the sense that plasma dynamics play a critical role in confinement. Using plasma axial current for confinement and compression eliminates the need for external confinement or heating technologies. This compact magnetic confinement technology could, in turn, provide the basis for a cost-effective deuterium-tritium fusion power plant. In addition to a robust experimental program pushing plasma performance toward breakeven conditions, Zap Energy has parallel programs developing power handling systems suitable for future power plants. Technologies under development include high average power repetitive pulsed power, high duty cycle cathodes, and liquid metal wall systems. Century is the name of Zap Energy’s first effort to integrate these three components into an operational system capable of firing nonreacting hydrogen SFS Z-pinch plasmas into a liquid metal–lined container at sustained repetition rates on the order of 0.1 Hz. The pulsed power driver and liquid metal heat exchanger are both designed to sustain input powers of 100 kW. Construction and initial operations with an interim ~10-kW liquid metal heat exchanger are described.