Taming thermonuclear plasma with a snowflake
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 2:33 pm
http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-11-the ... flake.html
quote:
While the conventional magnetic X-point divertor concept has existed for three decades, a very recent theoretical idea and supporting calculations by Dr. D.D. Ryutov from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have indicated that a novel magnetic divertor -- the "snowflake divertor" -- would have much improved heat handling characteristics for the plasma-material interface. The name is derived from the appearance of magnetic field lines forming this novel magnetic interface.
/quote
This has a passing resemblance to the cusps in a polywell...
quote:
While the conventional magnetic X-point divertor concept has existed for three decades, a very recent theoretical idea and supporting calculations by Dr. D.D. Ryutov from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have indicated that a novel magnetic divertor -- the "snowflake divertor" -- would have much improved heat handling characteristics for the plasma-material interface. The name is derived from the appearance of magnetic field lines forming this novel magnetic interface.
/quote
This has a passing resemblance to the cusps in a polywell...