A New Polywell Post
Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 10:37 am
Greetings Fusioneers!
A new Post is up on "The Polywell Blog" - "An Ode to the Fusioneer" It took 10+ weeks to compose. Enjoy...
http://thepolywellblog.blogspot.com/201 ... oneer.html
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Executive Summary:
This post looks at the constraints, technology and organizations involved in fusion power. The failure to get ignition at NIF is connected to compression, laser-plasma interactions, fuel mix and errors in measurement and experiments. NIF will slowly decline making a shift in research, not seen in decades. Ion beams and excess electrons are discussed as a method for ion injection and well preservation in polywells. The Lawson criterion points to net power by raising fusion and efficiency and lowering conduction and radiation losses. An argument that radiation losses in the polywell were overestimated is discussed. A 48% energy capture experiment using direct conversion is summarized.
Technology is covered, starting with the first fusion machine in 1958. Early magnetic ideas including mirrors, biconic cusps, picket fences and rings are reviewed and connected to the polywell. Biconic cusp work reveals three electrons types which may also exist in polywells. The history of electrostatic machines is covered including Elmore-Tuck-Watson, fusors and polywells. Issues common to these machines: cloud structure, angular momentum, uniform convergence and modes of operation emerge. Polywell mechanism is illustrated and fusion with ion beams is mentioned.
Three organizations to realize fusion are contrasted: public bureaucracies, individual innovators and amateur communities. Fusion is unfit for government bureaucracy because it needs cognitive work, has no deadline, disrupts markets, is considered impossible and has no war driving it. Bureaucratic strengths and weakness are discussed. Solo innovators add vision and speed but suffer risk, poverty and alienation by society. The homebrew computer club is examined as an amateur community; it is compared with today's fusion communities. 75 amateurs have fused atoms with fusors; these communities makes markets and acceptance for a new technology. Finally, a desktop polywell is suggested.
A new Post is up on "The Polywell Blog" - "An Ode to the Fusioneer" It took 10+ weeks to compose. Enjoy...
http://thepolywellblog.blogspot.com/201 ... oneer.html
======
Executive Summary:
This post looks at the constraints, technology and organizations involved in fusion power. The failure to get ignition at NIF is connected to compression, laser-plasma interactions, fuel mix and errors in measurement and experiments. NIF will slowly decline making a shift in research, not seen in decades. Ion beams and excess electrons are discussed as a method for ion injection and well preservation in polywells. The Lawson criterion points to net power by raising fusion and efficiency and lowering conduction and radiation losses. An argument that radiation losses in the polywell were overestimated is discussed. A 48% energy capture experiment using direct conversion is summarized.
Technology is covered, starting with the first fusion machine in 1958. Early magnetic ideas including mirrors, biconic cusps, picket fences and rings are reviewed and connected to the polywell. Biconic cusp work reveals three electrons types which may also exist in polywells. The history of electrostatic machines is covered including Elmore-Tuck-Watson, fusors and polywells. Issues common to these machines: cloud structure, angular momentum, uniform convergence and modes of operation emerge. Polywell mechanism is illustrated and fusion with ion beams is mentioned.
Three organizations to realize fusion are contrasted: public bureaucracies, individual innovators and amateur communities. Fusion is unfit for government bureaucracy because it needs cognitive work, has no deadline, disrupts markets, is considered impossible and has no war driving it. Bureaucratic strengths and weakness are discussed. Solo innovators add vision and speed but suffer risk, poverty and alienation by society. The homebrew computer club is examined as an amateur community; it is compared with today's fusion communities. 75 amateurs have fused atoms with fusors; these communities makes markets and acceptance for a new technology. Finally, a desktop polywell is suggested.