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 Jaeyoung Park
CEO/CTO

35+ years in plasma physics and fusion R&D

Led two successful US Navy fusion programs and Polywell modeling efforts

PhD, Plasma Physics, Princeton University

John Daly
COO

26 years of software and technology management at Microsoft

Crewchief, US Army. 160th Special Ops. Veteran of Operations Desert Storm and JustCause

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David Mansfied
CIO

Experienced CFO of listed Sustainability companies. Driving market growth strategy and funding initiatives.

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

Dr Alan Roberts
VP R&D Program

Directorof the US Navy Energy R&D Office (1979-2007)

NavySuperior Civilian Service Award (2007) & Presidential Award -EnergyManagement (2003)

PhD,  Chemical Engineering, University of Sheffield

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Dr Nicholas Krall
Scientific Advisor

65years in plasma physics and fusion R&D

Co-founderof Fusion Power Associates, Chairman of Plasma Physics Division of AmericanPhysical Society

PhD,Theoretical Physics, Cornell University

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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.

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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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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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