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: Hirsch visit - energy conservation
Date: Aug 17, 2:38 pm
Poster: Scott LittleOn Aug 17, 2:38 pm, Scott Little wrote:
Richard wrote:
>The particles fall through a potential and acquire energy E and when colliding head on, the net energy is never more than 2E.
Correct. However, since the relative velocity between the two deuterons is TWICE what it would be if one of them was stationary, the collision dynamics, including probability of nuclear fusion, are the same as a collision between a 4E deuteron and a stationary one. Conservation of energy is not violated because, in the latter case, half of the energy is always "wasted" as translational energy of the two particles AFTER the collision. In other words, the fusor's not getting something for nothing...it's just not wasting half of the particle energy like ordinary accelerators do.
Since we are using cross-section data obtained by impacting deuterons onto stationary targets, we should therefore continue to use 4E....(I think!)