Discuss how polywell fusion works; share theoretical questions and answers.
Moderators: tonybarry , MSimon
JohnP
Posts: 296 Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:29 am
Location: Chicago
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by JohnP » Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:56 pm
Why do they call it a 'polywell' when there's only one well?
Grant Castillou
Posts: 6 Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:01 pm
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by Grant Castillou » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:45 pm
This is from the Polywell entry at Wikipedia:
The name Polywell is a portmanteau of "polyhedron" and "potential well." The magnetic field is produced by a polyhedral arrangement of coils...
Grant
windmill
Posts: 31 Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:19 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada
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by windmill » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:58 pm
"Poly" refers to polyhedral, as in the geometric configuration of the B field coils.
The quasi-spherical negative potential well is formed by the combined fields of the individual coils, hence: "polywell".
wisnij
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by wisnij » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:51 am
Perhaps if the polywell design is successfully developed into a full power-generating system, we should refer to such devices as "bussards".
MSimon
Posts: 14335 Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:37 pm
Location: Rockford, Illinois
Contact:
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by MSimon » Wed Oct 31, 2007 2:10 pm
I'm calling it the Bussard Reactor.