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: Photon Resonance for Fusor?
Date: Aug 21, 3:30 pm
Poster: Jones BeeneOn Aug 21, 3:30 pm, Jones Beene wrote:
The following is an easy add-on experiment for anyone with a currently operating fusor - IF your setup includes both a viewing window and good data logging of neutron production.
The goal of the experiment would be twofold:
1.) to attempt to augment the neutron production rate of the fusor using an external resonant photon source
2.) to try to gauge the effect (if any) that photofission might play in fusor neutron production
The 2537 angstrom (4.88 ev) uv line of Mercury coming from arc discharge lamps is interest. These arc lamps are commonly used in home movie projectors and produce high intensity uv which swamps the lessor spectra energy/noise. There is evidence going back half a century that uv is implicated in interstellar nuclear reactions - so if the axiom that good emitters are usually good absorbers has any relevance...
Also, the ~2737 angstrom wavelength is close to the work function values of the metals used in cold fusion experiments, which implies that return of an electron to the metal may produce a transferred uv photon in those experiments - and also there is the possibility of light lepton pair production around ~ 4.54 ev (1.02E6 * alpha^2/n, where n =12, this according to Frederick Sparber) and also the 4.34 ev ionization energy of a Potassium "catalyst" comes into play in the Mills BLP experiments. So there is some modern (albeit controversial) basis for the implication of uv resonance in D nuclear reactions - but also other references in the literature going back to Lord Raleigh etc.
A high intensity uv light source is necessary as quartz or pyrex glass is a pretty good uv absorber and will be parasitic - but most arc lamps are robust - 300 watts and up; and although they normally use high current DC they will function adequately on high current rf, so if you have a ham transmitter and want to try some of the MHD frequencies, then it is possible that you might achieve a double resonance.
Maybe this resonance thing is just wishful thinking - but OTOH it seems rather easy to set it up - and positive results would be extremely interesting.
-Jones