Terra Fusion Developed Plasma Reactor With MRI Magnets
The Baltimore-based company utilized recycled medical technology to advance its magnetic mirror fusion research.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Nuclear
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Formed in 2024, Baltimore-based Terra Fusion developed a plasma fusion reactor by repurposing magnets from two Philips MRI scanners. The project aims to achieve scientific fusion breakeven by 2029 through a simplified magnetic mirror design.
Why it matters
Magnetic mirror reactors offer a potentially cheaper and more maintainable alternative to the massive, complex toroidal tokamak systems traditionally favored in fusion research. By lowering the barrier to entry, this design approach seeks to accelerate the timeline for commercializing modular fusion energy.
The CMFX reactor utilizes a 3 Tesla magnetic field generated by recycled MRI components to confine plasma. The company projects these modular systems will eventually deliver a power output of 100 megawatts per unit.
The players
Terra Fusion
This Baltimore-based company is focused on developing modular fusion reactors using repurposed medical imaging technology.
University of Maryland
This academic institution hosted the Maryland Centrifugal Experiment, which served as a foundational test site for this reactor technology.
ARPA-E
The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy is a U.S. government organization tasked with funding high-potential, high-impact energy technologies.
The details
The reactor functions by using a central electrode to accelerate plasma to supersonic speeds, where centrifugal force balances the internal magnetic and plasma pressures. This design departs from conventional tokamak architectures by utilizing an open-ended configuration that is easier to maintain.
Timeline
1986: The largest magnetic mirror reactor was mothballed.
2004-2010: Researchers operated the Maryland Centrifugal Experiment.
2020: Terra Fusion received a $5.2 million ARPA-E grant.
2024: Terra Fusion was formed.
2029: Terra Fusion targets scientific fusion breakeven.
The Big Picture
Terra Fusion's reliance on magnetic mirrors challenges the long-standing dominance of the tokamak design, which is the foundational architecture of the ITER fusion project. This shift signals a move toward modularity that could fundamentally alter how fusion energy is scaled.
Successful development of modular 100-megawatt reactors could provide a path toward cheaper, carbon-free baseload electricity for the power grid in the mid-2030s. This technology could eventually reduce reliance on centralized power plants by allowing for smaller, localized energy production units.
The takeaway
The fusion industry is seeing a surge of interest with $4.5 billion in funding attracted over the last year alone. This investment is fueling a trend of creative hardware recycling, where researchers repurpose legacy components like MRI magnets to bypass the high costs of custom manufacturing.
Further reading
Learn more about advancements in the sector on the United States Nuclear section page.
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Should private startups using repurposed parts receive more focus for achieving fusion energy breakthroughs?
