Talk-Polywell.org

Joseph, the point of the quadrupole field is to stabilize m=2 MHD instabilities that plague the FRC. If you recall the basic Polywell theory, the whole point of using a cusp field is that since it *IS* a multipole field, it is inherent stability to all MHD activity.

Hi all, The Innovative Confinement Concepts workshop was this past week, you can view the abstracts now, & maybe some presentations. Of special interest, perhaps, is the General Fusion overview . Note the funding information at the end of the abstract. TriAlpha also presented an overview of recent r...

Microwave engineer says they want to use some kind of wave heating, probably electron cyclotron resonance (ECRH). Especially since they are talking about higher power. Possible reflectometry, interferometry, or EC temperature measurements, but less likely. I'm really curious what they mean by 'excel...

I was in touch with Rostoker & a postdoc, but I don't think my credentials will help you much.

The reason that Tri-Alpha's reactor looks so much like Helion's is that Slough helped Tri-Alpha design it. IIRC, Tri-Alpha's claim to uniqueness was that they were using the FRC in a similar manner to the gas-dynamic trap: the reactions would take place between a high-energy beam population and a lo...

Hey Rob,

Any news? Did you ever get in touch with Famulus or the guys at Sydney?

ChrisMB: It's in the U. Wash papers on their RMF experiments - I've seen the explanation, but I don't fully understand it. Flux amplification refers to the total magnetic flux through the FRC - it basically relates to current. So flux amplification means they achieve some current drive. GIT, this am...

Hmm, so I just got access to the Tri-Alpha PRL: http://prl.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v105/i4/e045003 There's not too much technical detail to the report, but they claim some cool numbers - high flux amplification (necessary for neutral beam capture), good flux confinement time, high ion temperatures, and...

Well, perhaps it's a stage whisper, but there are a huge number of presentations slated for the upcoming APS-DPP meeting in Chicago in Nov, by TriAlpha researchers. Here's the link, scroll down to the FRC section APS DPP 2010 - Session GP9 They've got a nice diagnostics suite built up, and they've t...

It has. It gets referred to as "POPS" here, search for it if you want more info.

I think we all know the best use of a polywell is a paperweight .... unless we find out that it works! Enough speculation guys, this is a news thread!

@Rob: eh, sorry for getting us off topic. SO, where are we at now? ok, did we decide what would be a useful diagnostic or measurement to make on a small Polywell? (cross-check that with practicality later...) Hey speaking of fusor.net, Rob, you should visit the place: fusor forum They've got a bunch...

MSimon: I'm going to UW in the fall, but I'm not doing IEC - I'm going magnetic. Sorry to disappoint :-) But yeah, maybe Rob can get in touch with George Miley. Or actually, Andrew Seltzmann (sp?) from the fusor.net is at UW, and I've been emailing him about campus housing ... I could probably pass ...

In terms of getting funding and/or the support of your boss/PI, try to do some research/headscratching/talking to ppl & find out a research question you can reasonably pursue. Yes it's cool just to have a fusor or a demo polywell, but it'll help if you can say "If you give me money, I can test XYZ a...

What are your goals for this? Just to test the injector, or to make one that you can attach to your eventual device? If you just want to make a test system, maybe a bell jar would be useful. Does your lab have one? Or perhaps you could fudge one by using a large test tube or round-bottom flask inste...