Plasma Windows

[Aero]

Does anyone have a good idea of how to use plasma windows in a Fusor? Probably not Polywell due to magnetic interference, but maybe another design.
http://www.techbriefs.com/component/con ... ticle/1834

[ravingdave]

Does anyone have a good idea of how to use plasma windows in a Fusor? Probably not Polywell due to magnetic interference, but maybe another design.
http://www.techbriefs.com/component/con ... ticle/1834

Since nobody else seems interested in proffering an opinion I guess i'll chime in with mine.


I am thinking that the degree of vacum necessary to allow a fusion device to function is too problamatic with a plasma window. My understanding of plasma windows were that they were primarily deveolped for electron beam welding so that the technology could be used without having to place the objects to be welded in a vacum chamber.

The ability to pump down a small chamber quickly allows the machines to weld objects with the electron beam while minimizing the consumption of electrical power needed to maintain the beam and the vacum.

Even so, I suspect a large quantity of the plasma's atoms get into the chamber and while not enough to interfer with the operation of the electron gun are probably more than enough to interfer with the operation of a fusor.


Apart from all of that, why would you want to use a plasma window in a fusor ? I mean, what kind of benefit would you be looking for ?


David

[Aero]

Well, they aid in focusing, for one thing. Maybe they could deflect some of the alphas away from the Magrid. But mostly, I was posting anything non-political.

[hanelyp]

I am thinking that the degree of vacum necessary to allow a fusion device to function is too problamatic with a plasma window. My understanding of plasma windows were that they were primarily deveolped for electron beam welding so that the technology could be used without having to place the objects to be welded in a vacum chamber.

David

Doesn't sound very useful for a fusion reactor. But a plasma window sounds like something that might be very useful for a QED engine. How well would one handle the propellant stream in such an engine?

[Aero]

I don't know. I was searching Google for "Force Fields" when I came across Plasma windows. They seem to be the closest thing that currently exists. But then I didn't do a very detailed search.