Fusion startup Avalanche disclosed that its desktop-scale prototype has heated plasma to approximately 11 million degrees Celsius, surpassing the industry-standard threshold of 10 million degrees Celsius. According to the company, this temperature approaches that of the Sun’s core, placing it among a select few companies to achieve this milestone.
Reach the 1 keV threshold
In the industry, plasma temperature is not typically measured directly with a thermometer, but rather inferred from particle energy, commonly expressed in kiloelectronvolts (keV). In fusion research, temperatures exceeding 1 keV are considered a significant threshold, as higher temperatures increase the probability of particle collisions and subsequent fusion reactions.
Avalanche stated that the plasma temperature corresponding to this experiment is approximately 11 million degrees Celsius, exceeding the level corresponding to 1 keV. The company noted that this represents an important step toward achieving controlled fusion conditions, but this metric alone does not mean that power generation has been achieved.
The company emphasizes advancing at low cost.
For a fusion device to produce net energy, it requires not only sufficiently high temperature but also simultaneous satisfaction of conditions such as density and confinement time. In other words, the plasma must be hot enough and maintained for long enough to sustain fusion reactions that release large amounts of energy.
Avalanche also stated that to achieve this progress, the company has used less than $50 million in venture capital funding, a relatively modest investment compared to many fusion companies.
The prototype is only five inches in size.
The company aims to demonstrate that fusion devices don’t necessarily need to be large-scale. While most current startups are targeting large systems capable of generating tens to hundreds of megawatts of power, Avalanche is pursuing smaller, more affordable reactors. If this approach succeeds, it could address parts of the market currently served by diesel generators and gas turbines.
Avalanche chose a miniaturization path, partly because the devices are easier to iterate quickly. The company’s latest device, named Jyn, has a fusion core with a diameter of just 5 inches. According to the company, Jyn has undergone 25 updates since last fall.
Additional information: This result has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. The company states that the related report has been verified by a plasma physicist from MIT. Globally, fusion reactors have not yet achieved stable commercial power generation.