Fusion Message Board

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: Some dumb off topic questions
Date: Sep 22, 1:35 am
Poster: Ivan Vuletich

On Sep 22, 1:35 am, Ivan Vuletich wrote:

>There is a website at http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/accelconf/p99/KW/KW/KW133.HTM
>with lots of interesting 3 page papers on accelerator technology. I found the following paper "The Plasma Window: A Windowless High Pressure-Vacuum Interface for Various Accelerator Applications" there:
>http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/accelconf/p99/PAPERS/FRAL3.PDF
>
>It describes using a 4cm stabilized arc in a 3mm dia tube to keep a vacuum between electron tubes, lasers or accelerators and atmospheric pressure (and up to 40 psi) targets.

[snip]

I've downloaded and read the paper your refer to.
It really is a fascinating idea, and I just HAVE to ask some dumb questions.

1. How large a diameter could this be scaled to?. I'm thinking of the order of 1-2m diameter.

2. What level of e-m emissions would it generate?.
Would the atmospheric end be eye safe?. The paper mentions that the plasma is at about 15,000 K

3. What power level is required to ignite and maintain the arc?. I mention this because the paper mentions cooling of the chamber as a significant issue.

4. Now for the dumbest, what happens when a solid body passes thru the tube?.

The reason for all this, is that the first application that popped into my head after reading the paper was airlock door!. Something like the fast acting valve application that it mentions.

If a sold body couldn't pass thru the tube you would need two of them, but the essential idea is still the same.

Unfortunately I suspect this application is on the impractical side, but its fun to speculate about.

regards
IJV