Search found 825 matches

by drmike
Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:42 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Electron interactions with the magnetic field
Replies: 56
Views: 24907

The strange thing about this thread is that it's clear the basics are not agreed on. Leave aside the ions and the plasma for a moment. Let's have a simple lab model that shows exactly where the electrons go. The problem is that a plasma is a non-linear system. Even if you understand a simple subset...
by drmike
Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:26 am
Forum: General
Topic: Soon to be viral.... (unrelated to polywell)
Replies: 2
Views: 2402

The fact the guy got two shots in before anyone even moved is the amazing part!
by drmike
Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:26 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Energy Czar From LNL
Replies: 11
Views: 15134

The very fact there is a physicist in charge of all the national labs is astounding. That he's a Nobel winner is even more amazing. I think the key political notion we need to keep him interested is to point out that fusion is an alternative energy source. Polywell is just one of many fusion methods...
by drmike
Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:00 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: Electron interactions with the magnetic field
Replies: 56
Views: 24907

Howdy Dan, Think of the electrons in the magnetic field as balls on a string. As you swing a ball around in a circle and change the length of the rope, the ball will move slower or faster. The magnetic field is the string to the electron being the ball. The number of field lines inside the electrons...
by drmike
Sun Dec 07, 2008 3:46 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: Recirculation redux
Replies: 11
Views: 6887

In the field null region the phase space is uniform - all particle velocities are distributed in all directions. So under a line cusp, particles that shoot out along the cusp have no magnetic coupling - they go from zero field in the null region to high field with their velocity vector along the fie...
by drmike
Sun Dec 07, 2008 3:26 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Vote for Fusion
Replies: 0
Views: 1908

Vote for Fusion

I don't know if this will do any good, but I posted an idea on the Change.org website talking about fusion research. I left it general because all fusion research really needs to be hammered at, but feel free to leave comments about the Polywell!

You do have to register with the site to vote.
by drmike
Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:56 am
Forum: Theory
Topic: Recirculation redux
Replies: 11
Views: 6887

To get a picture on the electron sources, imagine two fire hoses pointed at each other. What happens when the water hits in the middle between the hoses is not exactly what happens when electron beams collide, but it's not far off. Not many electrons are going to get back up the other stream.
by drmike
Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:48 am
Forum: General
Topic: Ocean Current could provide Power for 15 Billion People
Replies: 7
Views: 4696

That's pretty cool! I wonder what the wear and tear is on the power generator section.

It fits in with the field of "energy harvesting", but on a much larger scale.

Thanks for posting it!
by drmike
Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:39 am
Forum: General
Topic: Cloud burn-through power
Replies: 6
Views: 3822

That's a funny one! Since the snow doesn't move, but the clouds do, pointing the microwave at the snow directly would probably work better and cost less! One of the cool ideas I liked back in the 1970's was the L5 Society - put a bunch of solar collectors at the L5 point and beam microwave power bac...
by drmike
Sun Nov 30, 2008 3:43 pm
Forum: Theory
Topic: Recirculation redux
Replies: 11
Views: 6887

Re: Recirculation redux

I was reading Art Carlson's all that can go wrong with recirculation thread and had a few questions / observations. The biggest one is: is the current understanding of recirculation now that the electrons do not go out one cusp and back into a different one, ie, they go back in the same one they go...
by drmike
Sun Nov 30, 2008 3:30 pm
Forum: Design
Topic: betas o' joy, or direct nuclear electricity
Replies: 15
Views: 10641

Neutral beam heating used in Tokamaks would work just as well. Using a beam of neutrals is an energy hog, but you don't have to worry about the electric or magnetic fields. Only ionization impact will convert the neutral atom to be part of the plasma, and you would expect that to happen near the hig...
by drmike
Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:54 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Risk Asessment slows innovation
Replies: 26
Views: 11166

KitemanSA wrote: A 747 crashes and the fleet is flying in hours to days and improved as needed. A shuttle crashes and the program is shut down for years.

I guess another way to look at it is asset management vs. ass set management.
Yet another line I have to steal!!
:D
by drmike
Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:08 am
Forum: Design
Topic: betas o' joy, or direct nuclear electricity
Replies: 15
Views: 10641

The idea behind the circuit is ok, but you need to think of the stack of materials as part of the circuit. Set up the surface between insulator and metal to be the diode, and set up the beta emitter to be the electron source on the other side of the insulator (or diode). It's like trying to understa...
by drmike
Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:56 am
Forum: News
Topic: News on the Review?
Replies: 18
Views: 16045

It's more a budget question. You have to put advertising and outreach in as specific budget items, so for larger projects you get results sooner simply because somebody is in charge of getting the info out there. Look at NASA and live TV coverage 24/7 on the space station. EMC2 has a really small cr...
by drmike
Thu Nov 27, 2008 2:39 am
Forum: General
Topic: Happy Thanksgiving
Replies: 2
Views: 2646

Thanks! Beer and turkey and football helps deal with all the relatives :D
Only it's not your kind of football!