Astral Systems
🇬🇧 Bristol, GB · Founded 2021 · Active
Astral Systems is a fusion company in the Bristol area of England, founded in 2021 with links to the University of Bristol. Rather than aiming first at electricity, it is developing a compact fusion device, which it calls multi-state fusion, as a neutron source for making medical radioisotopes used in cancer imaging and therapy, in facilities that could sit closer to hospitals. It also sells neutron testing services. The University of Bristol reported in June 2026 that Astral had closed a £23 million Series A round led by Mercia Ventures, had 23 staff, and had earned more than £3 million from research contracts while operating several commercial fusion facilities.
- Sector
- Fusion
- Technology
- Beam-target
- Fuel
- Deuterium–deuterium
- Role
- Fusion developer, Supplier
Terms
- Beam-target
- A beam of fast ions fired into a fuel target that is not itself a hot plasma, such as a gas cell or a solid loaded with deuterium or tritium. As each beam ion ploughs through the target it loses its energy to the target's electrons far faster than it is likely to fuse, so only a tiny fraction of the ions fuse before they stop. The fusion energy returned is a small fraction of the energy spent accelerating the beam, so the approach cannot reach net energy gain however the beam or target is arranged. It is commercially useful anyway, as a compact and reliable source of neutrons for imaging and medical isotope production.
- Deuterium–deuterium
- Deuterium only. Needs far higher temperature than D-T, but the fuel is abundant in seawater and no tritium breeding is required. It is not neutron-free: about half of D-D reactions release a 2.45 MeV neutron, and the tritium made by the other half can fuse in turn, releasing 14.1 MeV neutrons.
Related companies
Sources
- Homeoperator
- Bristol-linked fusion company Astral Systems raises fundingunknown
- Aboutoperator