Search found 142 matches

by dch24
Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:29 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: Where's the beef?
Replies: 132
Views: 71116

Plus, the energy transport is very slow: The high-energy photons (gamma rays) released in fusion reactions are absorbed in only few millimetres of solar plasma and then re-emitted again in random direction (and at slightly lower energy)—so it takes a long time for radiation to reach the Sun's surfac...
by dch24
Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:41 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Two more months on the contract
Replies: 31
Views: 17994

No offense to you dch24, but do you think Nebel would want to build a 1.6 meter Polywell if WB-7 was sucking balls. He said he had data, then he said he wants to build the 1.6 meter Polywell. I think those 2 things are connected, no ? None taken, and I want him to build the WB-8 and keep this proje...
by dch24
Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:10 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Two more months on the contract
Replies: 31
Views: 17994

Roger Fox, for one, is convinced that EMC2 has fusion results already. I'm not so sure. But assuming the results are good -- the "nuanced" data clearly showing fusion rates and neutron counts consistent with theory -- there are plenty of well-funded people willing to invest in the next step, a 100 M...
by dch24
Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:11 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Electron recirculation
Replies: 106
Views: 51152

Why is the direct conversion collector separate from the outer wall? Practical considerations? I think yes: running the vacuum pumps and feed-through ports at ground is easier than at a high positive voltage. In other words, after the first BFRs are built for power plants, newer designs might be ab...
by dch24
Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:20 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Electron recirculation
Replies: 106
Views: 51152

So I love physics, but I haven't had the chance to devote the time to master everything. So a lot of polywell physics still goes over my head. But the direct conversion makes sense to me, so let me explain what I understand. Then shoot it full of holes :) ______________ Outer wall / / / ____________...
by dch24
Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:44 am
Forum: Design
Topic: Shielded Building Construction
Replies: 9
Views: 6762

Re: Shielded Building Construction

Jccarlton wrote:The FEL building at Jlab:
http://www1.jlab.org/ul/jpix/med/FEL_6.jpg
I had to look this up... (I know, I know, I'm not enough of a geek... yet...) So in case anyone is curious:
http://www.jlab.org/fel/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_electron_laser
by dch24
Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:18 am
Forum: Implications
Topic: Shipping
Replies: 56
Views: 46966

If new rails are going to be built, then the width of the new trains could just as well be widened to accommodate a BFR. Average american rail car width is 10 ft. While I've seen the BFR dimensions projected at 1.5m-2m (5 - 6.5 ft) in diameter, what's the projected overall unit size, including the ...
by dch24
Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:53 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Why is polywell supposed to be better than cusp confinement?
Replies: 74
Views: 52634

To pstudier: On the other hand, worrying to hear Indrek has turned sceptic, what has turned him do you suppose? (Maybe we should ask him). http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/IEC_Fusion/message/1407 ... There is little evidence for this kind of virtual cathode formation and all the factors seem to b...
by dch24
Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:24 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: recirculation vs. line cusps
Replies: 11
Views: 6527

The point was that he relaxed his ideas about required electron containment by two orders of magnitude but insisted on great recirculation. That was it. Agreed that you still need very good containment with a huge ratio of inside to outside density of electrons (1E4). Agreed that Bussard thinks you...
by dch24
Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:16 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: Carlson and Nebel
Replies: 108
Views: 79896

...and it keeps striking me that that is a simple thing that Carlson is missing whenever he talks about zero field at the cusps. Does he think the fields are opposed and cancelling rather than in the same direction? That fact is so basic to the invention and would be such a peculiar oversite that I...
by dch24
Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:24 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: What's Electron "pushback?"
Replies: 13
Views: 7268

A moving electron can be viewed as a tiny current element, just as if it were traveling in a wire. And of course currents produce magnetic fields. The path of an electron in an external magnetic field becomes curved, and the curvature of the path is always such that the magnetic field produced by t...
by dch24
Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:22 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Electron recirculation
Replies: 106
Views: 51152

Very interesting stuff! :) Ok, I read the abstract of the article for tandem mirrors (CUSPDEC). I haven't ever doubted the idea would work but didn't understand exactly how the electron flow worked. I think I was just hung up on avoiding any electrons colliding with the magrid. Thanks for the explan...
by dch24
Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:28 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: Electron recirculation
Replies: 106
Views: 51152

tombo, you ask a good question: where is the "ground" that returns current generated by the trap grid and outer wall? As I think about it, the first thing I am unclear on is how the current is generated. In full operation, the trap grid is negatively charged, so when alphas pass it they start to dec...
by dch24
Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:39 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Vlasov Solver [work in progress]
Replies: 86
Views: 51803

And now that I come to think about it, may sound like sci-fi but if we had the right program I'm sure that a cooperative effort between fusion fans could lend a LOT of computer power, much higher that has been possible til now, in the range of Teraflops (sort of like the SETI@home initiative). The ...
by dch24
Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:59 pm
Forum: Design
Topic: Effects of high energy alpha on materials
Replies: 30
Views: 17028

Would this only be a problem for the test reactor? That is, if we're taking the energy from the machine as a generator by decellerating the alphas to create electrical current for use, then won't the impacts be lessened or negated nearly entirely? 93143 mentioned 80% grid transparency. This means 8...