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: An interesting benefit to pulsed fusors
Date: Nov 19, 11:58 pm
Poster: Tom Ligon

On Nov 19, 11:58 pm, Tom Ligon wrote:


>What about Miley's results indicating that a pulsed fusor displays a square relation between applied power and the number of fusions as opposed to a linear relation for steady-state power? I agree that steady state is somewhat preferable for all kind of reasons, but if pulsed works better, then pulse is the direction to go in. Pulse is also easier for the amateur experimenter, I think. You don't need to buy as big a power feed.
>
The Miley device I have seen is not actually a spherical "Fusor" but rather a conical section of an IEC machine. If you could imagine pushing an apple-corer thru a Fusor, that is what he was trying to do. Ions from either end of a cylinder converged on the center, pulled by ring grids just to either side of the center. Just before the ion packet reaches the grids they reverse polarity, so the ions avoid the grids and collide in the center.

This device attempts to avoid grid losses by its pulsed operation. If that can work, the concept has great merit and would be better than any steady-state fusor.

I have not kept up with this device, but the last communication I saw on it was not promising. Words to the effect of "well, we didn't actually get it to do any of this year's goals, but otherwise the project is going great." But that was about two years ago.

I would personally be more inclined to work with RF rather than any relatively slow pulsing. I believe the Fusor depends on elimination of background neutrals by heating (reducing their density until they are no longer a significant loss mechanism for ions), a critical part of getting long mean free paths. If pulsing allowed the neutral population to climb it would be a killer. Pulsing would have to be to fast to allow this.

Tom Ligon