Student just built a working fusion reactor for less than $2,000

A university student’s bedroom has become an unlikely hub for fusion experimentation, capturing the attention of enthusiasts and experts alike. This isn’t the work of a billionaire-backed lab but the endeavor of Hudhayfa Nazoordeen, a math major at the University of Waterloo, who constructed a miniature reactor with determination and ingenuity.

In just four weeks and with a modest budget of $2,000, Nazoordeen assembled a mini fusor using parts sourced online. While his device hasn’t yet achieved nuclear fusion, his innovative approach and perseverance offer a fresh perspective on the future of fusion research.

Inspired by the design of a tokamak, a popular type of fusion device, Nazoordeen crafted his reactor using surprisingly simple tools. Instead of the high-tech apparatus found in traditional fusion labs, he powered his creation with a 12kV neon sign transformer. The result was a device capable of generating plasma—the essential state of matter where fusion occurs.

Having “zero hardware experience,” Nazoordeen admitted that his first week was mostly spent figuring out which components he needed and sourcing them from suppliers like McMaster-Carr. Week two was dedicated to assembling the main chamber and rectifier circuit, while in week three, he installed the neon transformer and began integrating it into the system.

However, the biggest challenge he faced occurred midway through week three when he had to tackle the vacuum system. Creating a vacuum is crucial because fusion demands incredibly low pressure, allowing nuclei to get close enough to fuse. This process tested Nazoordeen’s persistence more than anything else in the project.

“This was by far the most annoying part of this project,” he revealed in a thread on X, previously known as Twitter. Tiny leaks in the system required meticulous attention as he worked to seal them all. After several attempts, he successfully achieved a vacuum of 25 millionths of an atmosphere, a critical step in advancing the fusor’s capabilities.

To monitor and control the vacuum, Nazoordeen used an MKS-901p transducer, ensuring that pressure levels remained low enough for potential fusion reactions to occur. Although his reactor didn’t quite reach the point of inducing fusion—meaning it didn’t produce neutrons—it still represents a remarkable achievement for such a small, home-built device.

A significant part of Nazoordeen’s success was thanks to the assistance he received. Other engineers at his university offered their expertise, but a surprising helper was Claude 3.5, an AI chatbot developed by Anthropic. Nazoordeen described how the chatbot was instrumental in interpreting complex datasheets, helping him troubleshoot various aspects of the build.

“I fed Claude all my datasheets, and it helped a ton with this,” Nazoordeen noted, underscoring the increasingly important role that AI plays in modern scientific and engineering projects.

While Nazoordeen’s current fusor didn’t achieve full fusion, he remains hopeful. He’s waiting on additional funding to further develop the project and build what he calls the “full fusor.” More advanced reactor concepts or significant engineering adjustments could push his design into neutron-producing territory, but that remains a future goal.

Nazoordeen’s project draws inspiration from similar efforts by other young innovators. One notable example is Olivia Li, an engineer from the University of Toronto. Last year, she made headlines for constructing her own fusion reactor in her New York City apartment, using deuterium gas extracted from heavy water. Like Nazoordeen, Li tackled the complex challenge of building a fusion device in a non-traditional setting and with limited resources.

Li expressed admiration for Nazoordeen’s work, emphasizing how rare it is for someone to take on such a project and see it through.

“A lot of people I’ve talked to have been excited about building a fusion reactor,” Li shared in a post on X. “Hudzah is the only person to have actually went on and executed!” She went on to provide a link to a write-up aimed at helping anyone else interested in building their own fusor at home.

Fusion remains an incredibly difficult technology to master, even for the world’s top labs and researchers. Yet, efforts like those of Nazoordeen and Li demonstrate the growing accessibility of this field to independent researchers.

While the road to producing practical, sustainable fusion energy is still long, such grassroots projects offer hope that the future of energy innovation might not be limited to the wealthy and powerful. Instead, it could be fueled by creativity, persistence, and even a bedroom workshop.

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