First-Wall Heat Flux
The thermal energy per unit area impinging on the innermost surface of a fusion reactor's containment vessel. In compact fusion reactors, first-wall heat flux can exceed 10 MW/m² — far higher than conventional tokamaks — due to the higher power density. Managing this heat load is one of the primary engineering challenges in CFR design, requiring advanced materials like Mondaloy superalloys or tungsten coatings.
Verified Primary Sources
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- → LANL Fusion Research 2012 (p. 28) — 2012 — Los Alamos National Laboratory
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Timeline Mentions (8)
LANL adiabatic compression of FRCs
Foundational paper on compressive heating of FRC plasmas, later inherited by the CFR program.
U.S. Compact Fusion Aerospace Program Initiated
A highly classified U.S. program begins development of a revolutionary aerospace platform powered by a Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) based on FRC physics.
Lockheed Skunk Works CFR program begins internally
Tom McGuire and Charles Chase begin CFR development at Skunk Works. FRC-based high-beta concept.
Lockheed Martin CFR Program Commencement
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® officially begins its Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) program, led by Thomas McGuire.
McGuire files first CFR patent applications
Multiple provisional patents filed. McGuire is sole inventor on all CFR confinement patents.
CFR Soft Disclosure
Charles Chase of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works provides a 'soft disclosure' of the Compact Fusion Reactor program during a 'Solve for X' presentation.
Chase Discloses Compact Fusion Concept
Lockheed Martin manager Charles Chase presents a conceptual compact fusion reactor at a Google 'Solve for X' conference.
Charles Chase reveals Skunk Works CFR
Public reveal of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Compact Fusion Reactor concept.