UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway MP launches First Light Fusion's maiden 'Big Gun' fusion campaign

OXFORD, England, June 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amanda Solloway MP, UK Science Minister and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation, today visited First Light Fusion's Oxford HQ and officially fired the first 'shot' in First Light's maiden fusion campaign using its newly completed 'Big Gun'.

At 22 metres long and weighing 25,000 kg, the Big Gun is the largest of its kind in the UK. First Light finalised construction of the £1.1 million device in May 2021 and has since successfully completed the testing and commissioning phase. These 'hyper velocity' devices are typically used by astrophysicists to simulate meteorite impacts.

When fired, the gun will launch a projectile into a vacuum chamber at speeds of over 6.5 km/s, or 20 times the speed of sound. The projectile will impact a fusion target – the centrepiece of First Light's unique approach to fusion.

With the benefit of First Light's unique amplification technology, the collapsing velocity of the fusion fuel will reach in excess of 70 km/s, or 250,000 kms/hour (over 200 times the speed of sound) producing pressure 30 times the centre of the Earth. The aim is to create the conditions required for fusion.

The 'Big Gun' complements First Light's electromagnetic launch device 'Machine 3', allowing the team to explore a different parameter space by launching larger but "slower" projectiles. The new gun is housed in a specifically constructed 10mm steel clad facility called 'The Citadel'.

This maiden fusion campaign using the Big Gun will consist of 21 separate shots and is expected to conclude in late July. This campaign is an integral part of First Light's effort to demonstrate fusion using their unique approach to inertial confinement fusion, which aims to create the extreme temperatures and pressures required for fusion by compressing the fuel inside a target using a projectile travelling at massive speed.

First Light's approach to fusion, which is safe, clean, and virtually limitless, has the potential to transform the world's energy system. Unlike existing nuclear, there is no long-lived waste, no meltdown risk, and raw materials can be found in abundance. Unlike many other fusion approaches, First Light's power plant can be realised with existing technology and materials.

Dr Nick Hawker, CEO of First Light Fusion, said:

"This is a significant scientific milestone for First Light Fusion, as we begin our maiden fusion campaign using our new Big Gun. We were privileged to welcome the UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway MP to officially launch this campaign which will bring us closer to our target of delivering fusion using our unique technology. Our target design, which is the core element of our IP, has advanced significantly over the last 12 months. We are now able to amplify impact speeds by over 11 times in the space of just a few millimetres, breaking our previous records. This is key to creating the extraordinary pressure and temperature necessary for fusion." 

Science Minister Amanda Solloway:

"Companies like First Light Fusion are helping the UK build a formidable reputation for fusion innovation – essential as we work to cement our status as a science superpower. I was delighted to see their work first hand today and look forward to seeing how it contributes to this exciting and crucial field of research in the months and years ahead."

For more information please contact:

First Light Fusion Ltd 
Gianluca Pisanello, Chief Operating Officer
+44 (0) 1865 807 670

Powerscourt
Peter Ogden, Steve Marinker, Jack Holden
+44 (0) 20 7250 1446

About First Light Fusion

First Light Fusion was founded by Professor Yiannis Ventikos, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at University College, London, and Dr Nicholas Hawker, formerly an Engineering lecturer at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

The company was spun out from the University of Oxford in July 2011, with seed capital from IP Group plc, Parkwalk Advisors Ltd and private investors. Invesco and OSI provided follow-on capital.

The business has grown from a research-focused university project to a fully-fledged company that has developed not only a strategy for how to make fusion energy work, but also a sustainable business model based on the technology.

The team comprises experts in relevant scientific and engineering fields plus the management experience necessary to address the challenges which lie ahead. The company has been able to attract a world class advisory board, meaning it can benefit from decades of relevant experience to help it streamline the path towards realising its vision.

SOURCE First Light Fusion