Zap Energy
@zapenergy.bsky.social
“We’re really just getting started with FuZE-3,” says Zap VP of R&D Ben Levitt. “We’re generating lots of high-quality shots with high repeatability, and we have plenty of headroom to continue making rapid progress in fusion performance.”
November 18, 2025 at 3:13 PM
“We’re really just getting started with FuZE-3,” says Zap VP of R&D Ben Levitt. “We’re generating lots of high-quality shots with high repeatability, and we have plenty of headroom to continue making rapid progress in fusion performance.”
FuZE-3 is Zap’s first device to incorporate a third electrode to separate the forces that drive plasma acceleration and compression. FuZE-3 is similar in design to previous FuZE devices but unique in its three-electrode configuration with two locations for pulsed power inputs.
November 18, 2025 at 3:13 PM
FuZE-3 is Zap’s first device to incorporate a third electrode to separate the forces that drive plasma acceleration and compression. FuZE-3 is similar in design to previous FuZE devices but unique in its three-electrode configuration with two locations for pulsed power inputs.
Zap’s highest electron pressure measurement to date is 830 MPa. Assuming the temperature of the electrons and ions is about equal, the total plasma pressure is double, or 1.6 GPa. That’s 10,000x atmospheric pressure and 10x the pressure at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
November 18, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Zap’s highest electron pressure measurement to date is 830 MPa. Assuming the temperature of the electrons and ions is about equal, the total plasma pressure is double, or 1.6 GPa. That’s 10,000x atmospheric pressure and 10x the pressure at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
Reaching high pressures, a measurement that combines temperature with density, is essential in fusion because the higher the plasma pressure, the more fusion reactions occur and produce energy. This video shows the plasma compressing inside FuZE-3.
November 18, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reaching high pressures, a measurement that combines temperature with density, is essential in fusion because the higher the plasma pressure, the more fusion reactions occur and produce energy. This video shows the plasma compressing inside FuZE-3.
FuZE-3 is Zap’s first device to incorporate a third electrode to separate the forces that drive plasma acceleration and compression. FuZE-3 is similar in design to previous FuZE devices but unique in its three-electrode configuration with two locations for pulsed power inputs.
November 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
FuZE-3 is Zap’s first device to incorporate a third electrode to separate the forces that drive plasma acceleration and compression. FuZE-3 is similar in design to previous FuZE devices but unique in its three-electrode configuration with two locations for pulsed power inputs.
Zap’s highest electron pressure measurement to date is 830 MPa. Assuming the temperature of the electrons and ions is about equal, the total plasma pressure is double, or 1.6 GPa. That’s 10,000x atmospheric pressure and 10x the pressure at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
November 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Zap’s highest electron pressure measurement to date is 830 MPa. Assuming the temperature of the electrons and ions is about equal, the total plasma pressure is double, or 1.6 GPa. That’s 10,000x atmospheric pressure and 10x the pressure at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
Reaching high pressures, a measurement that combines temperature with density, is essential in fusion because the higher the plasma pressure, the more fusion reactions occur and produce energy. This video shows the plasma compressing inside FuZE-3.
November 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reaching high pressures, a measurement that combines temperature with density, is essential in fusion because the higher the plasma pressure, the more fusion reactions occur and produce energy. This video shows the plasma compressing inside FuZE-3.
Over the coming months, Zap will continue to investigate critical technical questions while gradually ramping up Century’s repetition rate and power levels toward its 100 kW design target.
September 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Over the coming months, Zap will continue to investigate critical technical questions while gradually ramping up Century’s repetition rate and power levels toward its 100 kW design target.
Another key update is a new liquid metal first wall design that uses centrifugal forces to cover more exposed solid metal surfaces, improving its ability to absorb plasma heat.
September 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Another key update is a new liquid metal first wall design that uses centrifugal forces to cover more exposed solid metal surfaces, improving its ability to absorb plasma heat.
The new benchmark was partly enabled by a new liquid metal loop that circulates 2,500 lbs of flowing bismuth to cool the plasma chamber. This video shows the new liquid metal loop moving into place.
September 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
The new benchmark was partly enabled by a new liquid metal loop that circulates 2,500 lbs of flowing bismuth to cool the plasma chamber. This video shows the new liquid metal loop moving into place.
Concentrated inside a vacuum chamber about the size of a hot water heater, each plasma carried up to 500 kA of current — about 20 times stronger than a bolt of lightning.
September 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Concentrated inside a vacuum chamber about the size of a hot water heater, each plasma carried up to 500 kA of current — about 20 times stronger than a bolt of lightning.
Thanks to everyone who joined our private tour kicking off this year's #SeattleFusionWeek, and to Clean Tech Alliance for inviting Zap's Alex Cheung, Clemente Parga and Ryan Umstattd to speak today.
September 30, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Thanks to everyone who joined our private tour kicking off this year's #SeattleFusionWeek, and to Clean Tech Alliance for inviting Zap's Alex Cheung, Clemente Parga and Ryan Umstattd to speak today.
U.S. Representative @repricklarsen.bsky.social and staff from @cantwell.senate.gov, @repkimschrier.bsky.social, @repdelbene.bsky.social, and @markoliias.bsky.social's teams visited this week to tour the labs and discuss how our nation and state can continue to lead in #fusionenergy innovation.
September 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
U.S. Representative @repricklarsen.bsky.social and staff from @cantwell.senate.gov, @repkimschrier.bsky.social, @repdelbene.bsky.social, and @markoliias.bsky.social's teams visited this week to tour the labs and discuss how our nation and state can continue to lead in #fusionenergy innovation.
Zap is committed to parallel development — advancing our plasma physics approach and working toward real commercial fusion at the same time. This week Fusion Science and Technology published our research on Century, Zap’s 100-kW-scale Z-pinch system. Read here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
September 9, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Zap is committed to parallel development — advancing our plasma physics approach and working toward real commercial fusion at the same time. This week Fusion Science and Technology published our research on Century, Zap’s 100-kW-scale Z-pinch system. Read here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
(background) This comes from an SEM image of a metal sample exposed to fusion plasmas in FuZE-Q. The sample was being examined as part of a materials study. Here's the same image zoomed out with scale. #internationalcatday
August 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
(background) This comes from an SEM image of a metal sample exposed to fusion plasmas in FuZE-Q. The sample was being examined as part of a materials study. Here's the same image zoomed out with scale. #internationalcatday
Hey, how'd this little guy get into our fusion chamber? #internationalcatday (do you see it?)
August 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Hey, how'd this little guy get into our fusion chamber? #internationalcatday (do you see it?)
🤩 FuZE-Q just got a window upgrade, adding new diagnostic access to the upstream region of the chamber. Plasma campaigns are officially underway!
July 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
🤩 FuZE-Q just got a window upgrade, adding new diagnostic access to the upstream region of the chamber. Plasma campaigns are officially underway!
Zap engineers presented their work at the #SOFE2025 Symposium on Fusion Engineering in Cambridge this week. Thank you to the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at
MIT and IEEE for hosting and highlighting the most recent progress in fusion hardware development. #fusionenergy
MIT and IEEE for hosting and highlighting the most recent progress in fusion hardware development. #fusionenergy
June 26, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Zap engineers presented their work at the #SOFE2025 Symposium on Fusion Engineering in Cambridge this week. Thank you to the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at
MIT and IEEE for hosting and highlighting the most recent progress in fusion hardware development. #fusionenergy
MIT and IEEE for hosting and highlighting the most recent progress in fusion hardware development. #fusionenergy
It's been a great week of plasma physics and pulsed power discussions at the IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science Conference in Berlin! Danke to those who came by our sessions and to the thirsty scientists and engineers who joined us for a cold one at Zap's "Zum Z-pinch" beer bar. #PPPS2025
June 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
It's been a great week of plasma physics and pulsed power discussions at the IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science Conference in Berlin! Danke to those who came by our sessions and to the thirsty scientists and engineers who joined us for a cold one at Zap's "Zum Z-pinch" beer bar. #PPPS2025
We've been at the ai+expo in Washington DC this week, where AI’s impact on national security, economy, and society has been front and center.
#SCSP #SCSPAIExpo25 #fusionenergy
#SCSP #SCSPAIExpo25 #fusionenergy
June 4, 2025 at 6:50 PM
We've been at the ai+expo in Washington DC this week, where AI’s impact on national security, economy, and society has been front and center.
#SCSP #SCSPAIExpo25 #fusionenergy
#SCSP #SCSPAIExpo25 #fusionenergy
Nice shirt Jeff! Thanks for taking a break from working on fusion yourself at @uofwa.bsky.social to share the #FusionNews! www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YHc...
May 28, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Nice shirt Jeff! Thanks for taking a break from working on fusion yourself at @uofwa.bsky.social to share the #FusionNews! www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YHc...
Liquid metal wall 2.0: The Centrifuge. 🌪️ That's hot liquid metal spinning up and coating the wall of the Century chamber to transfer heat from its plasmas out of the chamber.
May 12, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Liquid metal wall 2.0: The Centrifuge. 🌪️ That's hot liquid metal spinning up and coating the wall of the Century chamber to transfer heat from its plasmas out of the chamber.
What does a flowing Z pinch look like? Video from two high-speed cameras simultaneously capture a linear plasma assembling inside FuZE-Q. The plasma looks more like a river than a lightning bolt, but has aspects of each. Read more: zapenergy.com/blog/fusions... #fusionenergy
May 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
What does a flowing Z pinch look like? Video from two high-speed cameras simultaneously capture a linear plasma assembling inside FuZE-Q. The plasma looks more like a river than a lightning bolt, but has aspects of each. Read more: zapenergy.com/blog/fusions... #fusionenergy
Combining visual imaging with a broader array of plasma diagnostics is helping bring Zap closer to a working fusion power plant.
Read the whole post here: www.zapenergy.com/blog/fusions...
Read the whole post here: www.zapenergy.com/blog/fusions...
April 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Combining visual imaging with a broader array of plasma diagnostics is helping bring Zap closer to a working fusion power plant.
Read the whole post here: www.zapenergy.com/blog/fusions...
Read the whole post here: www.zapenergy.com/blog/fusions...
This video combines footage from 2 synchronized cameras: one looking directly into the flowing line of plasma in a Zap fusion device, and another one looking at the side.
April 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
This video combines footage from 2 synchronized cameras: one looking directly into the flowing line of plasma in a Zap fusion device, and another one looking at the side.