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U.S. Laser Fusion Generates 40-Tesla Field in Nanosecond

5/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. researchers observed plasma spontaneously generate magnetic fields up to 40 tesla in a billionth of a second during laser fusion experiments.
Associate research physicist Kirill Lezhnin said the kinetic model added laser ray tracing and improved collision physics to simulate plasma expansion.
Rapid expansion created a temperature imbalance that triggered the Weibel instability, generating the field reported in Physical Review Letters on March 20, 2026.

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Story summary

U.S. researchers observed plasma spontaneously generate magnetic fields up to 40 tesla in a billionth of a second during laser fusion experiments.
Associate research physicist Kirill Lezhnin said the kinetic model added laser ray tracing and improved collision physics to simulate plasma expansion.
Rapid expansion created a temperature imbalance that triggered the Weibel instability, generating the field reported in Physical Review Letters on March 20, 2026.