I concur with Richard's assessment re: "The Origins of Big Fusion." I am now about 2/3rds through "Fusion - The Search for Endless Energy" by Robin Herman (found it at abe.com, also thanks to Richard H)and was rather surprised to discover the true extent of Hirsch's involvement (culpability) in the march to monolithic fusion devices in the 70s and 80s.
I found this particularly ironic in light of Hirsch's experience with Farnsworth - whose work gets a dismissive, one-line mention in Hermanh's book. I have an e-mail correspondence going with Ms. Herman, and intend to ask her what, if anything, she learned from Hirsch, or any other source, about Farnsworth. I'm suspecting that she got "steered off that scent" because there is nothing else in the book about the Farnsworth. Probably just my predesposition, but I find that odd.
For example, right about the time Hirsch is aiming the government's money hose at tokamaks, their operators are protesting the proposed use of tritium on the grounds that they're "not ready" for it yet. So how is that Farnsworth had been using Tritium right through the mid 60s?
It just seems... like somethings not quite right there. I'm pleased to learn, as Richard says, that Hirsch takes full responsibility for the "big fusion" movement. But I can't help but wonder why, with all the resource at his command, there has never a notable investment in IEC approaches.
On the other hand, given where we are in this dicussion, maybe that's a good thing...??
--PS
Created on Tuesday, December 12, 2000 8:27 PM EDT by The Perfesser