Talk-Polywell.org

some recently declassified work on using fusion for a space propulsion system that people on this forum might find interesting:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/12/micro- ... n-and.html

and i just found another link, not related to the previous one:

Physicist Yijun Lin and principal research scientist John Rice have demonstrated a very efficient method for using radio-frequency waves to push the plasma around inside the vessel, not only keeping it from losing heat to the walls but also preventing internal turbulence that can reduce the efficiency of fusion reactions.

"That's very important," Marmar said, because presently used techniques to push the plasma will not work in future, higher-power reactors such as the planned ITER

http://www.livescience.com/technology/0 ... power.html

tomschuring wrote:some recently declassified work on using fusion for a space propulsion system that people on this forum might find interesting:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/12/micro- ... n-and.html

I first noticed Winterberg's work in 2003:

http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/a ... rview.html

His ideas for electrical-pulse fusion seemed and continue to seem highly plausible. I tracked down the papers the 2003 article was based on. The papers of course focused on DT, but some back of the envelope numbers I did indicated that DD fusion should be doable, which means DHe3 fusion is doable.

Winterberg's concepts are also essentially micro nuclear bombs, but then all inertial concepts are. If that's what it takes to get an effective, compact fusion reactor, so be it. The slightly creepy thing about him is that he's advocated many fusion-fission combined cycle devices. Thermonuclear bombs that don't require primaries...

And darn if he hasn't been publishing:

http://arxiv.org/find/all/1/all:+AND+Fr ... /0/all/0/1

Duane

The fact that he is pushing fusion/fission combos indicates he thinks that fusion is a good source of neutrons but not a net energy producer. IMO.

MSimon wrote:The fact that he is pushing fusion/fission combos indicates he thinks that fusion is a good source of neutrons but not a net energy producer. IMO.

His 2003 concept promised a gain of 1000 on the math, fusion only. Using typical rules of thumb, that means a Q of 100 in an actual lab bench device. IIRC, my back of the envelopes indicated ~400/40 for DD & 200/20 for DHe3 cycles.

This is the guy who leaked some details of thermonuclear bomb construction a few decades ago. His fascination with fission-fusion combined cycles goes waaaaaay back. Nukes on the brain.

Duane