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: My first Fusor works!
Date: Jan 18, 09:50 am
Poster: Richard Hull

On Jan 18, 09:50 am, Richard Hull wrote:

>Thanks to Richard Hull's and other descriptions, I have built my first fusor, and it works! I'm only playing with air in the chamber for now, but it is so amazing I want to keep going untill I reach fusion. I built a chamber similar to Joshua Resnick (http://fus.x0r.com/) with a 6" x 3/4" pyrex view port. I was surprised how easily everything sealed up. I used Viton O-rings for the chamber cylinder and view port. I go from ATM to 10 microns in about 5 mins using a 150 lpm two stage pump. To make the grids I charged a huge cap up to about 45 VDC and dischaged it using a really big (50A?) SCR. It works great as long as you use aluminum rods and really clamp the wires together.
>Now how do I get the infamous star mode going?
........................................

Marcus,

Great work! As I have said many times, all folks should fiddle with air only, at first. There is much to amaze, inspire and understand about electrical discharges in vacuo! The process is delicate and has many, many, modalities. Play with pressure, voltage and current. It is hoped that all of these can be controlled and observed on meters.

Let that marvelous human integrating engine, (the brain), absorb it all! This is your number one asset! A "feel" for system dynamics will slowly overtake you and reside inside your skull. This will stand you in good stead later on in the process.

At the same time, "bone up" on the theory of ionized gases and Plasma physics. You will quickly link experience with book knowledge. Nothing teaches better or fixes learning better than the "doing".

Star mode is absolutely unavoidable in a well made and pumped system! This is true of air or deuterium. Star mode can be subtle in poorly pumped or dirty systems. In clean systems, pumped to near 1 micron with about 4-8kv, the recirculation paths are most vivid to the dark adapted eye, indeed! It is best to view star mode in an almost totally dark room.

Another way to check out or enhance a weak star mode is to use a video camera. Black and white, hi-res, security or medical cameras are best. The modern single board cameras are under $100.00 and are superb. All CCD type cameras (modern) are very sensitive in the IR range and this boosts the contrast of the star mode beams. A B&W monitor should be adjusted to max contrast and near minimum brightness. This makes the beams look like needles!

Fusor III makes use of all of the above artifices.

Good luck and welcome to the club.


Richard Hull