The 22nd National Conference on Plasma Science and Technology was held in Chengdu from August 22 to 25. Co-hosted by the Plasma Science and Technology Committee of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, the Nuclear Fusion and Plasma Physics Branch of the Chinese Nuclear Society, the Plasma Physics Branch of the Chinese Physical Society, the High Energy Density Physics Committee of the Chinese Physical Society, and the Plasma and Applications Committee of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, the conference was organized by the Southwest Institute of Physics, China National Nuclear Corporation. Over 700 experts, scholars, and industry representatives from more than 100 universities, research institutions, academic journals, and enterprises across China gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on the advancement of plasma science and technology. HHMAX-ENERGY participated in the conference and delivered presentations in two parallel sessions: “Theory and Simulation of Magnetically Contained Fusion Plasmas” and “Experiments and Diagnostics of Magnetically Contained Fusion Plasmas.” The company introduced its research and achievements in Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) plasmas, attracting significant attention from attendees.

   At the conference, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on opportunities and challenges in the development of plasma science and technology. This effectively promoted academic exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration within the field while strengthening ties between the scientific research community and industry. The event not only provided a vital platform for the high-quality development of China's plasma science and technology but also injected strong momentum into the clustering and upgrading of related industries in the Chengdu region, driving innovative applications of plasma technology across more fields. Representing HHMAX-ENERGY, Tao Zhihao from Plasma Simulation R&D and Li Dongxian from Diagnostics R&D attended the conference and delivered keynote presentations.

   In the session titled “Theory and Simulation of Magnetically Contained Fusion Plasmas,” Tao Zhihao presented the company's research on the formation mechanism and equilibrium characteristics of FRC plasmas under the title “Formation Mechanism and MHD Simulation Study of FRC Plasmas.” The findings validated the applicability of the Grad–Shafranov equation in analyzing FRC equilibrium and provided simulation support for understanding the high-β equilibrium characteristics of FRC. This research holds significant reference value for advancing FRC theoretical studies and device design.


   At the session titled “Magnetically Contained Fusion Plasma Experiments and Diagnostics,” Li Dongxian presented “Research on FRC Plasma Diagnostics,” sharing the company's diagnostic technology research conducted on its self-developed FRC fusion device HHMAX-901. The company innovatively integrated three diagnostic technology solutions—high-speed visible imaging, anti-magnetic flux ring, and photodetection—to instantaneously capture plasma moving at speeds up to ~200 km/s. By employing frame-by-frame image recognition in high-speed visible imaging, signal feature processing and analysis in magnetic flux loops, and time-of-flight measurement in photodetection, these complementary technical approaches cross-validate to determine critical FRC plasma ejection velocities. This provides essential support for optimizing subsequent plasma experiments on the device.

   Controlled nuclear fusion technology is maturing and moving beyond the laboratory toward practical application. Among the various approaches, the Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) has garnered significant attention due to its simple system structure and low construction and operational costs. It is hailed as the “dark horse” in the fusion field and is considered the most promising technology route for early commercialization. As China's first private enterprise dedicated to FRC technology in fusion R&D, HHMAX-ENERGY has accumulated extensive experience in FRC-related research and applications. At this conference, HHMAX-ENERGY's presentation on FRC technology research and achievements garnered significant attention from attendees, sparking lively discussions.

   Amid rapid societal progress and development, increasing extreme weather events have driven massive electricity consumption. In July alone, China's monthly power usage surpassed the 1 trillion kWh milestone for the first time—equivalent to Japan's annual electricity consumption. Against this backdrop, the development and application of new energy sources have become a topic of widespread societal concern. While wind and solar power are green, pollution-free, and theoretically infinite resources, their electricity generation remains unstable. Adding energy storage facilities would significantly increase costs. Hydropower plants, meanwhile, require massive investment and face numerous environmental constraints. With restrictions on new coal-fired power plant construction (driven by carbon neutrality goals), hopes now rest on fusion power plants. Leveraging FRC technology, HHMAX-ENERGY is accelerating the commercialization of nuclear fusion. The company's first-generation FRC fusion device, HHMAX-901, has successfully achieved plasma ignition. Moving forward, this device will serve as a platform to strengthen industry collaboration and exchange, systematically advance the R&D of novel controlled nuclear fusion technology, accelerate breakthroughs in core components, and drive the early realization of nuclear fusion applications!