DISQUS

Next Big Future: Focus fusion $1.2 million two year nuclear fusion project

  • MSimon · 11 months ago
    Electrode erosion is a very big problem for this device. The physics theories it is supposed to operate under are iffy as well.
  • nextbigfuture · 11 months ago
    Thanks M Simon. This as other high potential nuclear fusion and some non-fusion projects have substantial risks in terms of not working or not being commercializable or being severely delayed. It is private money that is trying to make it happen but if they do work then the potential is huge and if they fail then some private investors lose. Focus fusion and black light power are also tarred by some critics as scams, while bussard fusion is usually just claimed will fall short of break even or commercialization because of physics (but the developers are not charged to be scammers).
  • Musson · 11 months ago
    On the other hand - if they can 'demostrate positive net energy production' then they will have done something for two years and 1.2 mill that ITER will take 25 years and 20 Billion.

    Also, the physics theories are not 'iffy.' If they get hot enough and dense enough - it will fuse.
  • Musson · 11 months ago
    Remember - Philo Farnsworth demonstrated controlled fusion in 1964 using vacuum tubes. The trick is devising a system that creates net energy.
  • GRLCowan · 11 months ago
    "... the physics theories are not 'iffy.' If ..." !

    I seem to recall seeing an X-radiograph of an insect's knee a few years ago. The required point-like-ness of the X-ray source was obtained by some kind of self-pinching electric discharge. Does anyone have a link to this? Is it related?


    --- G.R.L. Cowan (How fire can be domesticated)
    http://www.eagle.ca/~gcowan/
  • YordanGeorgiev · 2 months ago
    The whole plasma focus approach has been described also here:

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-151800...