Tom Ligon, who started me on this fusor quest back in late 96 and early 97, is now back from San Diego and the Bussard fusion effort. He had agreed to help out for two years and now that the team there has lots of bright and heavily degreed folks who Tom helped bring up to speed, he felt his contribution to the effort was fullfilled and he is now back in Virginia and looking very healthy.
The parting company was amicable and he will always be mentioned as part of the effort there.
He was glad to have just escaped the rolling blackouts which were just hitting his area there.
I spent all day Saturday sort of debriefing Tom including a nice steak dinner (his treat). We also got together Sunday for the big Manassas hamfest. Tom felt that the team was moving forward and he expected some form of success ultimately to come from their efforts. Again, because both of us are under a signed non-disclosure agreement I cannot elaborate further. Sorry.
We talked fusion and general vacuum related issues most of the day as I helped him physically move in two big, brand new, lazy boy recliners which his cats took over immediately.
The Hamfest was also good as I picked up a nice Guass meter with longitudinal and axial probes for $45.00. I also picked up a nice Ortec precision nuclear pulse generator. ($20.00). There was a nice superb and functional professional grad thermal wire stripper ($15.00). I also picked up two nice functional geiger counters for $25.00 each. There was also the usual assortment of vacuum tubes, connectors (SHV BNC's, etc.), atomic absorption spectrum standards and much more.
All in all a really nice weekend with good folks.
Created on Monday, June 04, 2001 10:55 AM EDT by Richard Hull