Project Zeus

Abstract Project Zeus is an applied research proposal for a bench-scale impulse validation and multi-physics demonstrator focused on controlled lightning-like transients, current distribution, grounding behaviour, electromagnetic shielding, and reduced-order simulation. The proposal reframes an ambitious storm-energy and resilient-infrastructure concept as a staged research platform whose near-term value lies in survivability testing, high-quality measurement, model calibration, and evidence-based subsystem selection. Phase 1 centres on controlled laboratory impulse experiments, parallel current-path evaluation, grounding and return-path assessment, shielding validation, and comparison between bench data and electromagnetic/thermal models. Longer-range concepts, including liquid-metal protection, pulsed magnetic systems, and fusion-adjacent research interfaces, are retained as speculative internal reference material rather than external feasibility claims. The central purpose of the work is to determine which architectural ideas remain credible under controlled testing and which should be redesigned, narrowed, or abandoned.