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Fusors and Polywells? — Parallax Forums

Fusors and Polywells?

xanatosxanatos Posts: 1,120
edited 2014-04-23 17:26 in General Discussion
Just wondering if anyone on here has done any hands-on with building fusors or polywells.

Thanks,

Dave

Comments

  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-04-23 08:41
    DIY fusion? Not really, I don't own a lead apron.

    Lawence Livermore National Labs has a fusion project that seems to be the largest laser array in the world by a factor of 100. But it momentarially consumes a rather vast amount of electrical power (maybe a large fraction of what the USA might require).

    I don't if anyone involved would feel comfortable with taking shop over the internet.
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2014-04-23 11:20
    Well, I fiddled a bit with a Farnsworth fusor, built for him by Varian. But I didn't get to the point of evacuating it and applying high voltage. I spent too many years and too much capital pursuing mysteries. Now such things just seem tiring. Must be getting old. I realized yesterday that my favorite possession now is a pedestal sander. ;)
  • Mark_TMark_T Posts: 1,981
    edited 2014-04-23 14:08
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    DIY fusion? Not really, I don't own a lead apron.

    This is neutrons, you want a boron and lead apron.
  • xanatosxanatos Posts: 1,120
    edited 2014-04-23 17:26
    Oh well, thought there might be a few on here as off-center as I :)

    For what it's worth, this is very low grade fusion. These things (fusors) have been around since the 50s or so. The pressures in the fusor are VERY low, and the percentage of fusion reactions are even lower, so the radiation ranges from virtually undetectable, to low enough to not even require shielding if used for only a few minutes at a time. You CAN scale them up and get to a point where the neutron flux becomes a consideration, but for most experimenters, you have to spend more $$$ than it's worth. There's certainly no "over unity" energy production here, it's just for the fun of being able to actually do fusion - real fusion - by your own efforts. It's akin to the Tesla Coil builder hobby... doesn't really serve an economic purpose, but, if you're into such things, it's ... fun. And you learn a boatload of stuff in the process - all sorts of stuff about physics, high energy physics, particle physics, high voltage electronics, vacuum technology... I think learning is the fun part... but most people hear "radiation" and start laughing - and running away - but I thought I'd ask here anyway :)

    There's a forum for it all, that seems very similar to this one... http://www.fusor.net/ - great folks, very helpful, LOTS of info from folks who have built working fusors. The youngest to date puts me to shame... 13 years old. Dave Letterman had the kid on his show after he built one.

    I just want to start making 3He :) There's a shortage, you know!

    Dave
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