The fusion field guide

The science, architectures and accounting boundaries behind the headlines.

²H + ³H

→

⁴He + n

17.6 MeV

01 / Heat

Make plasma

Push fuel toward conditions where fusion becomes probable.

02 / Hold

Confine it

Use magnetic fields, inertia, compression or a hybrid.

03 / Harvest

Close the cycle

Capture energy, replenish fuel and protect the machine.

Six major architectures

Tokamak

Magnetic · toroidal

Deep experimental base; disruptions, exhaust and blanket integration remain central.

Stellarator

Magnetic · steady state

Reduced disruption risk; complex coils and plant access drive the engineering agenda.

Field-reversed configuration

Magnetic · compact

High beta and compact geometry; confinement scaling and end-to-end balance are decisive.

Z-pinch

Self-confined · pulsed

Lean magnet architecture; stability, electrodes and repetition rate set the path.

Magneto-inertial

Hybrid · pulsed

A middle ground in density and timescale; symmetry and component cycling matter.

Inertial confinement

Driver · target

Ignition demonstrated; driver efficiency, targets and chamber cadence govern commercialization.

Read every “net energy” claim carefully

Target gain → plasma gain → engineering gain → commercial plant

The commercially relevant finish line is reliable net electricity from a maintainable, financeable plant. Each earlier boundary can be scientifically meaningful without being equivalent to that outcome.

Read the systems-accounting standard →