Our technology
Compact laser fusion for isotope production
We apply novel engineering to the proven science of laser fusion, making it more compact and efficient.
How it works
Beam shaping optics – Convert Gaussian laser pulses into rings with tunable diameters and delays.
Focusing shocks + additive pumping - create pressures at the Mbar level, pre-compressing the target.
Fast ignition - fs-laser or particle beam induces high temperature reaching fusion conditions
Nanoparticles - Enhanced density and enable plasmonics for higher fusion rates
Why it’s different
400x
Higher compression efficiency compared to NIF. 10 GPa/mJ
Exchangeable blankets
For isotope production
beyond tritium in the future.
Proven science
The science of laser fusion has been de-risked by national labs around the world.
Cost-effective
Low infrastructure need compared to Tokamaks. Our machine is benchtop scale and the total footprint of a fully functional factory can be as small as a football field.
De-risked logistics
All of our hardware suppliers and the founding team are unrelated to countries on the export control list. Our lasers, optical components, and diagnostic instruments are off-the-shelf products.
Parallelization
Scalable by parallelization: 1, 10, or 100 production lines — as the market demands.
our mission
Produce tritium today.
Sustainable energy tomorrow.
Our laser fusion machine is designed to independently enhance all three components of the Lawson triple product (density, temperature, and confinement time) — something no other fusion platform has achieved. Its compact size enables weekly testing and upgrades.
Why are we starting with tritium
FAQ
What is fast ignition (FI)?
An ultra-intense laser or particle beam is focused on a microscale spot in the center of a pre-compressed pellet, rapidly heating up a small region to fusion conditions. This ignition is “fast” because it does not rely on the shock compression to increase the temperature but rather directly heating the pellet core.
What is inertial confinement fusion (ICF)?
In inertial confinement fusion, a small fuel pellet is symmetrically irradiated by either direct laser beams or indirect x-ray radiation. The ablation of the outer layer generates rocket-like inward pressure that compresses the pellet. Multiple converging shock waves launched at the pellet surface travel inward, heating and compressing the core. The fuel is confined by its own inertia for a few nanoseconds -long enough for fusion reactions to occur.
Why is it interesting to combine FI and ICF?
It’s a “best of both worlds” strategy: the proven ability of ICF to compress fuel, plus the efficiency of fast ignition to light it. U Osaka has been experimenting such hybrid method for more than a decade and generated fruitful results. The science has been de-risked.
What’s new in our hybrid FI + ICF?
Our inertial confinement method is highly compact. Unlike NIF, where 192 giant lasers are applied to excite the pellet from many angles, we shape laser pulses into rings, homogeneously excite the fusion target. Because we use 2D targets, the 3rd dimension is free for fast ignition, enabling high-level of tunabilities.
Which lasers are we using?
Two YAG ps-lasers and one Ti:Sapphire fs-laser are needed to assemble a complete CHI fusion machine. These are off-the-shelf products without customization.
What sets CHI apart in isotope production?
Several other fusion companies also focus on material production. We are glad to observe this new trend of side business! People already are using Tokamak to produce medical isotope, and compact DT neutron generators for non-destructive testing. We don't want to burn investors' money for 10 years until we can sell electricity, that's why CHI also plans to create revenue streams besides energy. How is our approach different than others? We are applying laser fusion while others mainly use Tokamak. We believe that lasers are more versatile since people use lasers everywhere in daily life. We can rely on the laser/photonic industry for supplies. Furthermore, NIF has shown laser fusion and only laser fusion can generate scientific breakeven in energy production.
Who are the buyers of our products?
All the fusion companies and research institutions. There are more than 50 fusion companies in the US alone, and there are major international research institutions such as ITER. It's like we sell gasoline for all the cars.
Do we have geopolitical risks?
We do. Just kidding! The co-founders are EU or US citizens, thus not in the DOE export control list. We source our equipment from suppliers in New Jersey, Germany, France, and Japan. We set up our factory right here in Massachusetts.
More resources & references