Developing Energy Solutions to Meet Global Needs

General Atomics is committed to developing innovative nuclear energy solutions to meet global needs. We are focused on the fundamental theoretical research needed for sustainable, alternative technologies that are safe and economical through improved performance. And with over 50 years of experience, we play an important role in nuclear research and scientific discovery.

Nuclear fission is the energy-producing process which takes place when nuclei of heavy isotopes split and generate energy in a nuclear reactor. Today, we are moving closer to producing process heat and electricity using this technology in an inherently-safe, gas turbine-modular helium reactor. The reactor produces very high gas temperatures, which drive the turbine that turns the generator contained in a simple and compact operating system. This efficient and reliable method generates energy in an economically-sound and environmentally-responsible way.

The modular helium reactor will help diversify the world's energy portfolio. It uses jet engine technology, and generates little waste and no carbon emissions. Its physical footprint requirements are smaller than any other energy source, including renewables.

Fission research and development at General Atomics is considered to be next generation nuclear energy.

	Fission Energy
	GT-MHR Power Reactor Home | Description | Benefits | Safety | Technology | History

Nuclear Fusion is the energy-producing process which takes place continuously in the sun and the stars. Today, we are closer than ever to creating that same power here on earth. Nuclear fusion produces minimal waste and offers an almost limitless supply of safe, dependable energy.

Hot fusion plasma consists of fully detached ions and electrons. For earth-bound fusion power plants, the fuel consists of isotopes of hydrogen, an essentially-limitless, naturally-occurring element.

The sun confines hot plasma through the force of gravity. On earth, scientists cannot use gravity, but are instead experimenting with magnetic confinement and inertial confinement methods. Magnetic confinement uses the physics principle that charged particles tend to follow magnetic field lines, thereby containing the plasma in a "magnetic vessel." Inertial confinement keeps the plasma together by inertial forces alone. This requires enormous pulses of energy from a number of focused lasers or particle beams.

Fusion research at General Atomics includes both magnetic and inertial-confined fusion plasmas and is considered future generation nuclear energy.

	Inertial Fusion Energy
	Inertial Fusion Technologies Home | Concept | Goal | Role | Target Catalog | Target Order Form

	Magnetic Fusion Energy
	DIII-D Home | Experimental Science | Operations | Diagnostics | Computing | Collaborators/Scientists | Opportunity