Search found 825 matches

by drmike
Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:18 pm
Forum: Design
Topic: Experiments with solid-state magnets
Replies: 51
Views: 38430

And the geometry: van allen belts are outside the earth, polywell fusion is in the center of the coils. If you can do fusion outside the PM then it'll work. If you want the center to be the fusion point, then it won't.
by drmike
Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:13 am
Forum: Design
Topic: Experiments with solid-state magnets
Replies: 51
Views: 38430

The point of the mag field is to keep the electrons traped on them. So the magnetic path has to be completely in free space. With a coil that's trivial. With a PM it's impossible. Some magnetic path may go through material and that is the loss you want to avoid. PM's just have too much electron loss...
by drmike
Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:00 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Thermodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics as applied to
Replies: 2
Views: 5394

Looks right to me. I haven't read it in detail to know if the main point is correct, but it's down right interesting! The pictures didn't show up right on my xpdf readier, I'll have to try it with Acrobat and see how that does. The basic physics looks correct. I have not checked if it's applied corr...
by drmike
Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:33 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Objections from Paul Dietz
Replies: 15
Views: 17352

You ain't kidding it is messy. The formula for plasma Bremsstrahlung in my "Principles of Plasma Physics" (Krall & Trivelpiece, pg 599) is P(w) = (4 Z^2 e^6 n_i n_e)/(3 pi m_e^2) [2 / (3 c^3 w)] (w^2 - w_p^2]^0.5 * ..............Integral( f_e0(v_e) { dirac( w - k v_e) / (k^2 |D_L(k, w)|^2} dk dv_e) ...
by drmike
Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:42 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: What happens to free electrons/ions?
Replies: 16
Views: 13544

Excellent description!
:D
by drmike
Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:38 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: well depth and electron counts
Replies: 11
Views: 11043

This sounds like a fun project. To make sure you get the basics, you might start with 100 electrons with a Maxwellian temperature distribution - one at each energy. Assume elastic collisions only and no walls. You can add fixed potentials at specific radius and see if particles with enough energy ca...
by drmike
Sun Jul 22, 2007 2:21 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: What happens to free electrons/ions?
Replies: 16
Views: 13544

The energy level. The relative motion between the ions and electrons is measured in 100's to 1000's of electron volts (eV), but the binding energy of electrons to the atom is measured in 1 to 10 eV. To be captured, the electrons and ions have to be moving at the same speed and in roughly the same di...
by drmike
Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:31 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: Fusion litelature and website suggestions
Replies: 37
Views: 42562

The use of symbols in math takes a long time to stabilize. You really have to read a paper carefully and see what each author decides to use for what a symbol means. What really pisses me off is when authors use the same symbol to mean different things on the same page!! Physicists are notorious for...
by drmike
Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:24 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Some questions
Replies: 9
Views: 10690

Thermalization means going from a non Maxwellian distribution of energy to a Maxwellian or Gaussian distribution. The electron guns and ion guns input particles at some high energy, and the process of thermalization converts it from uniform single energy to a distribution of energy. Look up "black b...
by drmike
Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:42 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Fusion litelature and website suggestions
Replies: 37
Views: 42562

Thanks lambda0! I'm gonna be busy reading this week for sure....
by drmike
Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:27 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Objections from Paul Dietz
Replies: 15
Views: 17352

I guess the most important statement is "show me the math". This is something Bussard is working on, and until he's got a full theory for us to beat our heads on. we won't really be able to deal with descriptions either way. It's entirely possible his theory has flaws, but it would be good to know w...
by drmike
Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:37 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Where do the electrons come from?
Replies: 14
Views: 14918

Thanks! The Yoshikawa et.al. looks like fun reading.
by drmike
Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:38 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Where do the electrons come from?
Replies: 14
Views: 14918

@tony

Check out the paper "The Advent of Clean Nuclear Fusion: Super-performance Space Power and Propulsion" on Bussard's web page.
Page 11 describes how the wiffle ball is held at high voltage,

The graphics suck, but it gives a lot of interesting info.
by drmike
Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:47 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Where do the electrons come from?
Replies: 14
Views: 14918

Howdy Tony, The idea of the Bussard fusor is to use the magnetic field to hold electrons so you get a negative potential in the center. That entices the positive nuclei to accelerate into the center. By holding the magnet rings positive, you reflect any fast moving ions back towards the center, and ...
by drmike
Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:27 am
Forum: Design
Topic: Small scale experiments?
Replies: 17
Views: 21370

Isn't there something about mean free path not always applying in some cases, I seem to remember reading someplace recently. I also seem to remember something about rather than going for a vacuum, going the oppersit way and increasing pressure may work. You can run plasma in an atmosphere, it's usu...