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Comparison
Magnetic vs Inertial Confinement
Magnetic confinement holds a steady plasma in a field; inertial confinement compresses fuel pellets with lasers in pulses. Kronos is magnetic — suited to continuous power.
- Magnetic
- Steady plasma in a magnetic bottle (tokamak)
- Inertial
- Pulsed laser compression of fuel pellets
- Kronos
- Magnetic, steady-state
- Fit
- Magnetic suits continuous grid power
The two great families of fusion solve the confinement problem in opposite ways. Magnetic confinement suspends a diffuse plasma in a magnetic field and runs it steadily. Inertial confinement compresses a tiny fuel pellet to enormous density with lasers, igniting it in a nanosecond burst, repeated many times per second.
| Dimension | Magnetic / Inertial |
|---|---|
| Operation | Continuous, steady-state / pulsed (rapid-fire) |
| Confinement | Magnetic field / the fuel's own inertia |
| Density | Diffuse, hot / ultra-dense, brief |
| Fit for power plant | Natural (firm, continuous) / requires rapid repetition |
Kronos is firmly magnetic — a tokamak built for continuous steady-state operation, which pairs naturally with a firm, always-on grid generator.