NIF project status

jcoady · Post by **jcoady** » Wed May 16, 2012 2:30 pm

https://lasers.llnl.gov/newsroom/projec ... /index.php

Ivy Matt · Post by **Ivy Matt** » Wed May 16, 2012 3:44 pm

I was wondering when they were finally going to publish their April status update. I wonder if the timing of the update has anything to do with this:

A NIF Facility Maintenance and Reconfiguration period began on April 25 and was scheduled to continue until May 15. The NIF team's goal is to upgrade NIF's peak power to 500 trillion watts in preparation for this summer's experiments.

Does this mean NIF is now fully armed and operational?

Ivy Matt · Post by **Ivy Matt** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:56 pm

May status update is now online. Maintenance and configuration was completed on May 18. NIF is operational again, presumably now with the ability to operate at 500 trillion watts.

DeltaV · Post by **DeltaV** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 8:58 pm

So, burger grilling is 'Go!'.

DeltaV · Post by **DeltaV** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:20 pm

Skipjack · Post by **Skipjack** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 7:35 am

doesnt it have to be covered in gold?

DeltaV · Post by **DeltaV** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 5:58 pm

Only if you are simulating nuclear warhead detonation.

If you're just grillin' burgers, not needed.

Did I mention the covert funding from McDonalds? They don't normally do thick burgers, because of the required cook time. 5e14 W will speed things up.

Robthebob · Post by **Robthebob** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:39 pm

come on now, dont be mean.

DeltaV · Post by **DeltaV** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:08 pm

Ivy Matt · Post by **Ivy Matt** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:16 pm

https://lasers.llnl.gov/newsroom/projec ... 2/june.php

Robthebob · Post by **Robthebob** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 3:41 pm

man delta v, arent you a meanie.

DeltaV · Post by **DeltaV** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 5:29 pm

Robthebob wrote:man delta v, arent you a meanie.

I'd be more mellow if the NIFmeisters would allocate 0.01% of their budget to (potentially) practical fusion schemes like Polywell.

Robthebob · Post by **Robthebob** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:07 pm

we work with what we've given. Indeed beam compression is not very practical, but from the limited exposure I have of the scheme, it seems like beam compression is closer to getting there than toroidal magnetic confinement.

DeltaV · Post by **DeltaV** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 8:30 pm

While I admire the technological achievement of NIF, I have to prioritize, given the limited time remaining for the US on its current path.

How much further along would Polywell be now if just 1/10000 of NIF's ~$5,000,000,000 cost had been allocated to EMC2 while Bussard was still alive?

About $500,000, or 3 scientist-years, in 'now' $. 10 scientist-years in 'then' $.

The "Eureka!" moment (rounding and separation of magrid coil casings) might have occurred years sooner, and we might by now be debating the finer points of WB-D design and commenting on a Navy shakedown cruise of a prototype Polywell-powered ship.

There isn't much time left for chump-change funding. Money brings speed, if given to the right people.

JLawson · Post by **JLawson** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:23 pm

DeltaV wrote:There isn't much time left for chump-change funding. Money brings speed, if given to the right people.

The trouble is how the right people are selected. You can go with the guy who's well-connected and knows how to work politicians, or you can go with the guy who was brilliant back in the day but had all sorts of crazy Sci-Fi ideas.

When it comes to politicians doling out the bucks for Buck Rogers, who's gonna see the dough?