Talk-Polywell.org

The most up-to-date posts that I have seen seem to indicate they are not trying D-D yet, just still using inert gas for plasma characterization and trying out the potential well.

I would think fusion would be the last thing they would attempt.

zretawt wrote:So what causes the electrons to return to the well (and stay there)?

The right hand rule

No, really.

I wonder what the effects of atomic oxygen would be on a carbon nanotube yarn?

TC you're picking nits. TL is talking elevator, you are talking tether. APPLES AND ORANGES. TC if you think for a moment that Ligon doesnt know what you are talking about then you are sorely insulting him. TC you make a valid point, very valid, and old, but moot to TL's post. I call it conflating. ...

By the way, if you want more detailed information on MXER, google "MXER Bonometti"

From an orbital mechanics perpective, they are the same thing. In each case you are trading angular momentum of one orbit for another. I.e., you're not actually "sligshotting" the lower craft so much as catching up to it, trading momentum, and then letting go. The only purpose of the tether system r...

There are several big obstacles to a space elevator other than the basic technology of the cable and power system. I'm not saying it won't work or that the Polywell would not be a key player. <SNIP> Point two is, there are no half measures in a space elevator. You can't build one half-way or a tent...

It's an interesting idea though. Anybody know if it's been tried somewhere? (with something other than H perhaps?.. and other than a flourescent bulb)

Dr. Mike, thanks for the explanation!

I suppose what's got me utterly confused is the way the word "beam" is being used. I'm used to thinking of a beam as a particle stream with one origin and traveling in a tightly focused..well, beam, in a straight direction. simon, which oscillating beams are you referring to? is that the electron be...

So, to recap the problem is neutral fuel ionization at reasonable (~100 MW fusion) power levels, with four different suggested methods in this thread. Stop me when I sound stupid: 1. Continuous neutral gas flow (Msimon), with ionization assumed to occur by a combination particle collisions. Dr. Mike...

I'm missing something here. Isn't injection of neutrals with electron ionization the idea? Or is there some physical reason that doesn't work? If you want the beam to be mono-energetic then you have to ionize the atoms in almost identical potential locations, something that will prove virtually imp...

The only way the coils can cool is through the leads, which is real slow. The cure is real simple: make the coil pulses as short as you can and monitor the temperature in the coils by measuring their resistance. Works like a charm. Does this rule out WB-7 working in continuous operating mode? Yep.

[quote="jmc"]I’ve been thinking about the problem of ion injection into a quasi-neutral polywell where the electrons and ions are at roughly equal density. The problem here is as you raise the ion density the region where the well descends in potential (i.e. the region where a radially inward pointi...

it seems like Dr. Bussards choice of 100 MWth power for the test reactor was right at the edge thermally re: reactor size vs power production. The sweet spot. Does that mean you think 100MW is "it"? Don't those spacecraft/aircraft designs call for GW range? Were the cooling designs meant to be "an ...