Farnsworth

[Steven Sesselmann]

How much is known about the construction and performance of
Farnsworth's fusor? From what I have been reading it all seems a bit
vague.

Are we trying to recreate what he already achieved or improve on it?

His devise in the famous picture on this sites main page looks a little
different to what you guys have been building. Also his HV feedthrough
looks like it's good for at least 100 KV. Was he working with higher
voltages?

Did he or did he not achieve a self sustaining burn?

Steven Sesselmann

[longstreet]

Richard Hull knows the most about his work. But to sum up, Farnsworth focused on containing electrons using grids, and the resulting virtual electron cathode to contain the ion plasma. Now we know that pure electrostatic confinement like this is inherently unstable and didn't produce much fusion, let alone self sustained fusion. Later Hirsch, a research partner, tried containing ions directly to demonstrate fusion, which is what is mostly built now.

[Richard Hull]

Farnsworth didn't do beans for the most part so far fusion and solid documentation goes. His main claim to fame here is showing that fusion in a fusor could be done rather easily and cheaply, if not efficiently.

Most of his blown out of proportion claims come from friends and family. The people who actually worked, built and designed his machines for him readily admitted the fusion per unit watt was not good at all in the devices actually placed online.

There are a couple of apocryphal tales, depending on who you talk to about ignition, but nothing verfied and absolutely never replicated or fusion would be on the grid right now!

Richard Hull

[Steven Sesselmann]

Thanks Richard, I am glad you clarified that for me, as some of the
literature started to sound like a conspiracy theory.

What do you make of the fusor in the Farnsworth picture, has anyone
seen this devise close up?

Steven

[Richard Hull]

That image was a publicity picture taken by ITT as it announced its splash into fusion in the very early 60's (60-61). The fusor shown did little or no fusion. Farnsworth, in this model, was attempting to do all the fusion with electrons and, thus, the interior was positive. Bad Idea. By 1962 gears were shifted and ionic collision was the main focus. This was, indeed, the way to go in a fusor. The image you are seeing is the mark I. It never amounted to anything.

Richard Hull