Phoenix (Xcimer Energy)

Phoenix is Xcimer Energy's excimer-laser prototype in Denver, which Xcimer calls the largest privately owned laser system in the world (>1 kJ pulses). It demonstrates the laser architecture for Xcimer's planned Anvil (2028), Vulcan (2031) and Athena (2035) machines.

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Current state

Notes

private funding raised is Xcimer's 'nearly $200 million' across seed and Series A (FAQ, undated, checked 2026-10-11); approximate. Phoenix is a laser demonstrator, not a fusion-yield device.

Timeline

• 2026 — Xcimer began operating its Phoenix laser system in Denver, with pulse energies above 1 kJ. (source)
• 2026-06-10 — DOE approved Xcimer's preconceptual design for its Athena power plant and its technology roadmap under the Milestone program. (source)

The timeline is append-only: corrections are added as new entries. Stated targets appear in the current-state table, never as milestones.

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Related projects

• ARC (Commonwealth Fusion Systems) Design · United States
• Athena (Xcimer Energy) Concept · United States
• Century (Zap Energy) Operating · United States
• Copernicus (TAE Technologies) Under construction · United States
• Da Vinci / first utility-scale plant (TAE Technologies) Concept · United States
• Demonstration System (Pacific Fusion) Under construction · United States
• Eos (Thea Energy) Design · United States
• FLARE fusion neutron source (SHINE Technologies) Operating · United States

See all 51 projects in the Fusion Energy Companies & Projects Tracker →

Sources

1. DOE approves Xcimer laser fusion power plant design — ANS Nuclear Newswire, checked 2026-10-11
2. FAQ — Xcimer Energy (primary), checked 2026-10-11