A Brief History of EMC2

Decades spent refining our unique technology for a bright fusion future

Company Founded
1985
EMC2 (Energy Matter Conversion Corp) is founded by the late Dr Robert Bussard to pursue the idea of Polywell Fusion. Dr. Bussard was looking for a peaceful use of nuclear energy and a step toward space travel.
The Early Years of Experiment
1990s
Full of ideas but with limited funding, EMC2 built the first test devices. One of the first - Polywell Wiffle-Ball 1 (WB1) is pictured in 1994.
The Build and Learn Phase
1990 - 2007
With generous support from the US Navy, EMC2 expanded Polywell R&D by building several test devices and learning from mistakes
Passing the Torch
2007
WB-7 was the last device designed by Dr. Bussard. After he passed away in 2007, EMC2 successfully demonstrated neutron generation in WB-7. This led to renewed interest in Polywell fusion R&D.
Expansion of Polywell R&D
1996 - 2013
With increased funding from the US Navy, EMC2 accelerated Polywell fusion R&D. WB-8 and WB-X test devices were developed leading to a major breakthrough in 2013.
Successful 'Wiffleball'
2013
After 25 years and 20 Polywell test devices, EMC2 succeeded in starting up a high beta plasma in a Polywell cusp by injecting ~ 100J of plasma energy in 10 microseconds (& 700 MW of pulsepower).
Publications and Outreach
2014- 2017
EMC2 published peer-review papers and conducted academic outreach to the fusion community. This enabled public discourse on Polywell technology and shared the success of Wiffleball plasma confinement .
Polywell Code Development
2017 - Present
EMC2 shifted from building test devices to leveraging HPC capabilities to accelerate Polywell R&D.
EMC2 has developed computational blueprints for a Polywell fusion power reactor and a Polywell neutron generator.
Commercial
Applications
2024 +
EMC2 submits neutron source proposals to important government programs (FPNS).
Anticipates becoming a critical part of the fusion supply chain by delivering for FPNS while pursuing the ultimate goal of fusion energy for electricity generation.
Published Papers

Journal papers on Polywell by EMC2.

The Polywell: A Spherically Convergent Ion Focus Concept
Aug 1992
Forming and Maintaining a Potential Well in a Quasispherical Magnetic Trap
Jan 1995
The Advent of Clean Nuclear Fusion: Superperformance Space Power and Propulsion
Oct 2006
High-Energy Electron Confinement in a Magnetic Cusp Configuration
Jun 2015
Energy Conserving Semi-Implicit particle in cell simulation
Oct 2018
Electron Gyroradius Scale Current Layer - Relevance to Magnetic Fusion
Jan 2019
EMC2 - Technical Lecture

Microsoft Tech Talk.

Dr Park delivers a lecture outlining the science behind Polywell and the advantages it provides.
EMC2 - Technical Lecture

Google Tech Talk.

Should Google Go Nuclear?
Dr Robert Bussard provides a first public lecture on EMC2 Polywell.
Decades of Plasma Science and Industry Experience

The Leadership Team

Dr Alan Roberts
R&D Program

Vice President of Plans and Programs at EMC2 with 39 yearsof R&D management experience at the US Navy Research Programs, including 30 years leading the US Navy Energy R&D Office.

Joined EMC2 in 2007. PhD and BSc, Chemical Engineering from the University ofSheffield.

Dr Nicholas Krall
Scientific Advisor

Renowned plasma physicist - 55 years of research experience. Co-founder of Fusion Power Associates, Chairman of Plasma Physics Division of American Physical Society.

Joined Polywell efforts in 1989. PhD Theoretical Physics Cornell Univ, BS Physics Univ of Notre Dame.

David Mansfied
Commercial Officer

Former CFO of a listed Electric Vehicle Company. Leading market growth strategy and funding initiatives.

Finance professional for Investment Banks with 23 years of experience in taking companies public, Structured Financing and Derivatives.

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John Daly
Commerical Adviser

John has been following the fusion industry for many years and has been actively involved as an advisor on EMC2’s direction and assisting with fundraising.

He worked at Microsoft for 26 years on Windows NT, Xbox, Windows HPC, and others. John is an active angel investor and belongs to Seattle Alliance of Angels and E8 Angels.

He is currently employed as an engineer at IonQ where he helps program robots to fire lasers at ions to do math.

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Dr Robert Bussard
(1985 – 2007)

Former Team Member

Dr.Robert W. Bussard was the inventor of the Polywell fusion approach. Received his Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University.

Founded EMC2, with the insight that a Polywell device could generate net fusion energy by integrating a high beta magnetic cusp with a potential well.

Dr.Bussard served as technical director of EMC2 until his passing in 2007.

Prof Giovanni Lapenta
(2011 - 2024)

Former Team Member

Prof.Lapenta served as the Theory Advisor for EMC2 in developing a first-principles plasma code of Polywell devices based on his ECsim PIC model. He had 30 years of experience in plasma physics code development at LANL and KU Leuven.

Served as a leader of Applicationsat Intel Exascience Lab. PhD, Plasma Physics, Politecnico di Torino.

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Dr Jaeyoung Park
(2007 - 2019)

Former Team Member

Dr.Park served as President and Chief Technology Officer at EMC2. Received his Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University. 

He is credited with creating the computational blueprints for a Polywell fusion power reactor and a Polywell neutron generator.

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Past Members: EMC2 gratefully acknowledges the significant contributions of former team members to Polywell Fusion R&D. We deeply value their dedication and perseverance.
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