In this space, visitors are invited to post any comments, questions, or skeptical observations about Philo T. Farnsworth's contributions to the field of Nuclear Fusion research.Subject: Re: Help me think this through
Date: May 08, 3:44 am
Poster: Ivan VuletichOn May 08, 3:44 am, Ivan Vuletich wrote:
>Guys,
>
>My post a few weeks back on "deceleration taking energy too" was thoughfully replied to me that the energy used in the deceleration was returned to the system.
>
>I did some reading (Spangenberg, "Electron Devices")and it was noted that in a purely static "potential" field where particles or charges are in a closed loop, there is no net expenditure of energy or forces at all!!! That is either in acceleration or deceleration.
>
>The total current drawn by the fusor is the "ioniztion current" only! That is, that current involved with the electrical conduction of current carriers between the shell and the inner grid only! Naturally, that would also include the initial establishment current of charging the shell inner grid interelectrode capacitance (setting up the field) and other circuit loses within the ionized gas volume.
>
>The movement of all ions up to speed and decelerating them back to zero, etc., so long as they do not collide with the inner grid or get lost and continue to remain circulating in the interelectrode region, is for free!
>
>Ideas, thoughts.........
>
>Richard Hull
A simple mechanical analogy for this system (well the ion circulation part anyway) is to picture the fusor as a hemispherical bowl pointing downwards and the ions as small ball bearings on the surface of the bowl.
Then, neglecting friction once the ball bearings are moved towards the lip of the bowl (ionized and accelerated by the electrostatic field) they will keep back and forth across the bowl surface.
The major loss mechanisisms in this analogy would be non-elastic collisions with other ball bearings (an ion hitting a neutral) or a non-elastic collision with an obstruction on the bowl surface (the grid).
Not entirely accurate I know, but it does give you a good mental picture as to whats going on as far as the movement of the ions is concerned.
reagards
IJV