Big Gun is the UK’s largest two-stage hyper velocity gas gun. It launches projectiles at 6.5 kms per second, 20x the speed of sound
A maiden 21-shot fusion campaign will be part of Oxford-based First Light’s effort to demonstrate fusion using what it says is a unique approach to inertial confinement fusion, which aims to create the extreme temperatures and pressures required for fusion by compressing the fuel inside a target using a projectile travelling at massive speed.
First Light said its approach, which is safe, clean, and virtually limitless, has the potential to transform the world’s energy system. Unlike existing nuclear, there is no long-lived waste, no meltdown risk, and raw materials can be found in abundance. Unlike many other fusion approaches, First Light’s power plant can be realised with existing technology and materials.
In December 2020, First Light raised $25m in new funding that it said would allow it to add 23 new employees and significantly upgrade computational and experimental resources.
First Light Fusion was spun out from the University of Oxford in July 2011, with seed capital from IP Group, Parkwalk Advisors Ltd and private investors. Invesco and OSI provided follow-on capital.