LFMR: Linear Fusion Magnetic Mirror Reactor Axial Loss Simulation, Fokker-Planck Baseline, and Comparative Analysis with Helion Energy

Abstract We present a Fokker-Planck simulation of axial particle losses in the Linear Fusion Magnetic Mirror Reactor (LFMR), a tandem mirror concept combining pulsed adiabatic magnetic compression with bidirectional ECR heating and synchronized X/UV irradiation. The simulation employs a pitch-angle scattering operator in normalized (μ, E) velocity-space coordinates, with a loss cone defined by the mirror ratio R = Bₘax/Bₘin. For reference parameters (T₀ = 60 keV, n = 5×10²¹ m⁻³, R = 10), the effective confinement time exceeds 20×τᵢi ≈ 102 ms, yielding a plug confinement factor Gₚlug ≈ 20, below the LFMR target of 35. Parametric analysis shows R ≥ 15–20 is required to reach Gₚlug ≥ 30 without electrostatic barriers. We further present a structured comparison of LFMR with Helion Energy's magnetoinertial FRC approach (Polaris), identifying architectural divergences in confinement strategy, fuel cycle, energy conversion, and technological readiness level. LFMR's multi-modal heating strategy — ECR chirping, X/UV irradiation, RF ponderomotive piston — is identified as a scientifically original contribution absent in any current private fusion program. A phased experimental and simulation roadmap is provided.