Cambridge Heavy Industries develops tabletop fusion device, raises $6.2M seed round

Tabletop Fusion Device Developed

Cambridge Heavy Industries, a startup based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has developed a compact fusion device designed to fit on a tabletop. This device utilizes lasers to compress a fuel target, aiming to achieve fusion reactions. The company has been operating in stealth mode near MIT.

Funding Secured for Development

The startup recently completed a $6.2 million seed funding round. Azolla Ventures led the investment, with additional participation from Overlay, Neta Foundation, P3A, MassCEC, and the Rothrock family. This funding will support the continued development and optimization of their fusion technology.

Laser Compression Technology

Cambridge Heavy's fusion reactor employs a laser-based compression method similar to inertial confinement designs. It uses two main lasers, one of which is split into multiple beams that deliver light in concentric rings. These rings are timed to successively hit a flat, round fuel target, starting from the outside and moving inward, to create a compression wave. A final laser then fires to generate heat and a magnetic field, leading to fusion.

Origins and Iteration

The concept for this technology emerged from the lab of Keith Nelson, a chemist at MIT, where researchers initially used laser pulses to study materials under extreme conditions. The small size of Cambridge Heavy's device allows for frequent experimentation, enabling 50 to 80 shots per day. Data from these experiments feeds AI-driven simulations to optimize the design.