Infroton

Thermonuclear fusion is a process that typically takes place in stars, where the nuclei of lighter atoms fuse into heavier ones at high temperatures, high pressures, and high densities over a period of time, releasing a lot of energy.

Avalanche fusion refers to a burn regime in which the fusion reaction becomes self-amplifying: the energetic charged particles produced in the initial reactions transfer enough energy to the surrounding fuel to trigger additional fusion events. This leads to a cascading, “avalanche-like” multiplication of reactions.

In deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fusion, the two primary branches together yield approximately 24.6 MeV of energy in the form of charged fusion products (protons, alpha particles, tritium and helium-3 ions). Because these charged particles have extremely short stopping lengths—only a few micrometers—in a strongly magnetized and compressed plasma, their kinetic energy is deposited locally, essentially in the same region in which they were born.

This extremely tight spatial coupling between the fusion products and the fuel enables a unique amplification mechanism: once a small hot spot reaches ignition conditions, the energy deposition from the charged particles can heat adjacent regions quickly enough to initiate further D-D reactions. As a result, the burn front can propagate outward from the initial ignition zone, potentially involving a large portion of the fuel volume.

Avalanche fusion therefore represents a distinct path toward high-gain D-D burn—one that is based not on a single large ignition impulse, but on self-sustaining reaction multiplication driven by charged-particle heating. This makes possible the use of small, kilojoule-class lasers and the production of containerized micro-power plants.

Infroton's WGM-MIF-CPA technology is a compact magneto-inertial fusion approach that combines Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) laser coupling, Magnetic Inertial Fusion (MIF), and Cavity Pressure Acceleration (CPA) to achieve fusion ignition with kilojoule-class (≈500 J) laser pulses rather than megajoule-scale systems. Laser energy is coupled to the outer surface of the fusion capsule and guided around it in whispering-gallery mode, generating strong surface plasma currents and self-organized magnetic fields that compress and confine the plasma. Simultaneously, microcavity-driven pressure waves reinforce compression and enable multi-point fast ignition, resulting in high plasma density and temperature with deuterium-based fuel, without the need for tritium.

Infroton has made three small but significant changes compared to NIF's world-renowned experiments: it eliminated the capsule, reduced the hohlraum size to match the capsule dimensions, and introduced the laser beams not from the two ends of the hohlraum, but tangentially along its cylindrical surface. These modifications resulted in more efficient laser energy utilization and the creation of a 100 Tesla magnetic field—something not observed in the case of NIF.

The invention introduces a technology that enhances the efficiency of fusion reactions by utilizing whispering gallery mode polarized laser beams to generate a magnetic field stronger than 100 Tesla, plasma meeting fusion criteria, and polarized deuteron, tritium, and helium-3 ions within the plasma. Whispering gallery mode polarization increases the fusion reaction cross-section, thereby reducing the energy input required for fusion and fast ignition conditions. Furthermore, it enables the directional control of reaction products, including neutrons, alpha particles, and protons. The magnetic field exceeding 100 Tesla, generated by the whispering gallery mode polarized laser beams, also protects the polarized plasma from depolarization effects.

The INFROTON® technology uses deuterium as fusion fuel, starting with a primary D-D reaction, followed by secondary D-T and D-He3 reactions within a single capsule. This approach offers several advantages:

Easy availability of deuterium:
Deuterium occurs naturally in water and can be easily extracted, providing a virtually unlimited and sustainable energy source.
No need for tritium storage:
The technology produces tritium on-site as a secondary product of the D-D reaction, eliminating the need for pre-manufactured radioactive tritium or long-term storage.
Lower neutron emission:
The combination of D-D, D-T, and D-He3 reactions generates fewer neutrons compared to the pure D-T reaction, reducing material degradation and secondary radioactivity in reactor components.
Higher energy production potential:
The multi-phase reaction process enhances energy efficiency, as the D-T and D-He3 reactions contribute to the overall energy output.
Safer operation:
Using exclusively deuterium-based fuel makes the reactor safer, as it involves minimal radioactive materials, reducing the risk of accidents.
Lower costs:
Extracting deuterium is less expensive than producing or storing tritium, significantly reducing fuel costs.
Reduced radiation shielding requirements:
Lower neutron emission means less extensive radiation shielding is needed, simplifying and lowering the cost of reactor installation and operation.

The whispering gallery mode works on the principle of ray reflection and describes a wave motion that moves around a concave surface. The reflected waves can be subatomic particle radiation (e.g. alpha, electron, neutron radiation) or electromagnetic radiation (e.g. laser, gamma, X-ray radiation) which interact with the concave reflecting surface and explode symmetrically inward towards the center, generating secondary radiation and magnetic fields of kT strength.

The laser radiation falling onto the concave surface of the capsules used by the INFROTON® FUSION technology generates hot electrons within the capsule. According to the laws of physics, these high-energy electrons create electric currents, which in turn produce extremely strong magnetic fields that confine and compress the plasma.

A portion of the electrons generated by the laser radiation falling onto the concave surface of the capsules used by the INFROTON® FUSION technology escapes from the capsule wall and then rushes inward toward the cold center of the capsule, generating additional electric currents and magnetic fields, thereby exerting further pressure on the plasma and enhancing its compression.

The process of helping to initiate the fusion process, when additional energy, such as proton radiation, is introduced into the precompressed fusion fuel, thereby facilitating the initiation of the fusion process. In the rapid ignition applied by the INFROTON® FUSION technology, a conical magnetic field generated by the whispering gallery mode radiation is used to focus the proton radiation or wakefield radiation.

Basically nothing. If the fusion plasma in the Pulsar or Drop power plants flows into a heat exchanger, we produce fusion energy, if it flows freely into space, we can generate thrust for the rocket or spacecraft. For the time being, we do not plan to convert capsule power plants to rocket propulsion.

Neutron safety is the top priority of INFROTON®. Our power plants swim in a bath of liquid metal (typically Lead) to shield the machine and the area outside the machine from neutrons, similar to how particle beams are shielded in hospitals.

In the Infroton spin-polarization solution the emission of neutrons in spin-polarized fuel becomes directional. This is due to quantum mechanical conservation of momentum, energy, and spin correlation, which favor the direction perpendicular to the spin. Through anisotropic emission, harmful neutron radiation can be technically shielded from structural elements of fusion reactors, such as fusion fuel feeders or spacecraft propulsion systems.

Low electricity price $6.5/MWh. During the fusion reaction, no greenhouse gases are released and, unlike nuclear fission, it does not produce long-lived radioactive waste. Our power plants are cheaper than solar power plants, they take up less space. Fusion fuel is also plentiful. The deuterium needed for fusion is practically unlimited in the ocean.

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