FuZE

The Fusion Z-pinch Experiment (FuZE) was initially designed in 2014 and 2015 at the University of Washington in Seattle as the successor to the ZaP and ZaP-HD flow z-pinch devices. Initial FuZE studies concentrated on neutron production, measurement, and analyses at up to 400 kA pinch currents. The FuZE power banks supported Z pinch lifetimes of several microseconds.

Following the incorporation of Zap Energy, the FuZE machine was moved from UW to a Zap Energy facility, pushing operation up to 500 kA pinch currents and pursuing further advancements in plasma operation. In 2022, both ion and electron temperatures in the 1-3 keV range were measured, consistent with thermal equilibrium, along with densities up to 5e17 cm-3 and pressures in the 100s of MPa. The thermonuclear nature of the neutron generation was confirmed, with axial extent of 10-50 cm. D-D neutron yields of ≈ 10e8 were observed, limited by the FuZE power bank's stored energy. In 2025 the FuZE device was decommissioned.