Abstract: TAE Technologies (formerly named “Tri Alpha Energy”) is based out of state-of-the-art plasma
research facilities in California. Over the last 20 years, TAE has continued to build on our early
technology and evolve our advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration (FRC) approach to
realize/develop a commercially competitive clean fusion energy. An FRC is a prolate compact
toroid (CT) that has many attractive features such as extremely high β value, simple
axisymmetric geometry, unrestricted natural divertor, and potentially enabling the use of
advanced, aneutronic fuels. The newly constructed C-2W experimental device (also called
“Norman”) is the world’s largest CT device and has the following key system upgrades from the
preceding C-2U device: (i) higher injected power, optimum and tunable energies, and extended
pulse duration of the neutral-beam injection (NBI) system; (ii) installation of inner divertors with
upgraded edge-biasing systems; (iii) fast external equilibrium/mirror-coil current ramp-up
capability; (iv) installation of trim/saddle coils for active feedback control of the FRC plasma;
and (v) extensive upgrade/expansion of plasma diagnostic capability. C-2W has produced
dramatically improved initial FRC parameters (good target for effective NBI), thus producing
better FRC performance overall compared to C-2U; e.g. higher temperatures (initially and later in
a discharge), longer lived plasmas. This talk will review highlights of the C-2W program as well
as recently obtained experimental results.