September 10, 2025
The project requests the assistance of the California Institute of Technology and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to unambiguously measure electron temperature and density with Thomson Scattering in the new ECLAIR proof-of-principle magneto-inertial fusion experiment. The new ECLAIR facility has become operational with more than 2300 discharges. The company is building a suite of plasma diagnostics but do not have the expertise to construct a Thomson Scattering system. The proposed effort will revive the existing, dormant Caltech Thomson Scattering diagnostic, test and transport it to the company to interface with ECLAIR. The measurements will help understand the results of magnetic reconnection and magnetic compression on plasma heating in our specific fusion concept and its scaling to fusion-relevant regimes.