China’s Ambitious Fusion Project Unveiled Through Satellite Imagery, Analysts Report

Satellite images have revealed China’s construction of a vast laser fusion research facility in Mianyang, a southwestern city, as reported by experts at two analytical organizations. This development could significantly impact both nuclear weapons design and the exploration of clean energy production.

The newly identified facility, believed to be a laser-ignited fusion research center, is detailed in satellite photos showcasing its expansive design. The facility features four outlying arms designated for laser bays and a central experimental area housing a target chamber for hydrogen isotopes.

These will be fused using powerful lasers to produce energy, according to Decker Eveleth, a researcher with the US-based independent research organization CNA Corp.

The facility’s layout bears resemblance to the US National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California, which in 2022 achieved a milestone by generating more energy from a fusion reaction than the energy put in by the lasers—known as achieving “scientific breakeven.” Analysts note that the experiment bay at the Chinese site is approximately 50% larger than that of the NIF, currently the world’s largest of its kind.

The significance of such a facility extends beyond scientific inquiry, as it could enhance nuclear weapons design by enabling the study of fusion reactions without full-scale nuclear testing. William Alberque, a nuclear policy analyst, emphasized that countries possessing such facilities could refine existing weapon designs and advance future designs without actual detonations.

Despite inquiries from Reuters, China’s foreign ministry directed questions to a relevant authority, while the Ministry of Science and Technology did not provide commentary. Similarly, the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence refrained from commenting on the matter.

This discovery follows prior concerns raised by the US in November 2020, when satellite images were released showing China’s expansion of nuclear support facilities, which included the Mianyang site. This area has since been identified as the location of the newly developed Laser Fusion Major Device Laboratory, per construction documents reviewed by analysts.

Laser-induced fusion, integral to the facility’s research, involves utilizing high-powered lasers to compress and heat fuel to achieve nuclear fusion, mimicking the processes that power the sun. Such experiments enable detailed analyses of nuclear reactions and hold the potential for harnessing fusion as a clean power source by utilizing hydrogen, the universe’s most plentiful element.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, to which both China and the United States are signatories, prohibits nuclear explosions, making laser fusion research a critical avenue for maintaining nuclear arsenals’ safety and reliability without active detonation. However, for nations with fewer test detonation data, such as China, which has performed significantly fewer tests than the US, these experiments may offer limited insights.

While other nuclear powers like France, the United Kingdom, and Russia also maintain laser-driven fusion research centers, the advent of China’s larger facility underscores its significant investment in advancing scientific capabilities, particularly in fusion research.

Omar Hurricane, chief scientist for the inertial confinement fusion program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which operates NIF, remarked on the ability to construct facilities with equal or more significant energy capacities on smaller scales. He added that scientific progress is difficult to impede, as research and technology development are inherently global endeavors.

This development is not necessarily alarming but highlights the competitive and collaborative nature of scientific advancement in energy and defense technologies. As countries continue to invest in fusion research, the global landscape of nuclear and energy innovation will undoubtedly evolve, with implications for both national security and sustainable energy solutions.