Interview with Thomas Ligon on the Polywell (3 of 7)

**** A TRANSCRIPT OF THE FILM CAN BE FOUND HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THIS SOUND IS BAD. ***

http://www.askmar.com/Fusion_files/2010-4-26%20Tom%20Ligon.pdf

The Polywell™ is a concept for a fusion reactor. It was conceived by Dr. Robert Bussard in 1983. 27.8 million dollars was spent on research into the idea, as a way for producing clean, plentiful, fusion energy. In 2006, Dr. Bussard went public with his research at Google Inc. There is established theory which argues that ideas like the Polywell are highly unlikely to work. What is the polywell? How does it work? Why are some people calling it a path to green energy? What are the arguments that say it is impossible?

This film was created as a first attempt to answer these questions. It consists of an interview with Thomas Ligon. Thomas Ligon worked with Dr. Bussard on inertial electrostatic fusion for 5 years. The film introduces the viewer to the theory behind the machine and, some of the major arguments against it ever producing power.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Polywell
• Fusion
• Bussard
• Ligon
• Energy
• Green

[ubrbzkr]

the sun is not massive enough to create fusion energy through Newtonian physics. it requires quantum physics phenomena (specifically quantum tunneling) to fuse the hydrogen atoms in the suns core.

[PolywellFan4512]

@ubrbzkr Right. For a point charge:

The Electric Field = 1/(4*Pi*Eo)*(q/r*r). If you assume at 20 cm there is no charge. Bussard claimed there was a 10 kV voltage drop in the center. That means WB6 had ~1.4E12 electrons. . Bussard claimed that the electron density was 1E13 electron/cm^3. This means the WB6 Whiffle ball would be ~0.6 cm in diameter. What I do not understand is: what was the temp of the Deterium? It is not as simple as (charge*voltage(10kV)*11604 Kelvins/electronvolts)

[PsionNinja]

(Cont.) Maybe Thomas's team thought of this already but who knows. The only downside to this idea that I know of is that hafnium is not exactly cheap and I dont know how the pucks will be effected by any neutrons that hit it.

[PolywellFan4512]

I Passed your comments along. I have a bunch of information for you about Halfnum.

[PsionNinja]

Gotta love the simplicity of the Polywell design. It's almost ridiculous. :)

I guess it's a matter of solving how to keep most of the electrons in the center of the device. Any progress on this?

[PolywellFan4512]

Electrons need recirculate. It is believed that they fly into and out of the center about 100,000 times.

Bussard made a big deal about this.

The key is, with ~10^12 amount of electrons flying around in there, they do 2 things:

1. focus in the center

2. Go Diamagnetic, and push back against the magnetic field.

It is a very simple design. We had better be damn sure if it will work or not. Right now, nobody is sure.

[EmperorOfMars]

@PolywellFan4512 I can not wait to go to college. PHYSICS

[ubrbzkr]

Wow this guy has no idea what he is talking about. on 8:55 he says "particularly I think it's the strong force". yeah DUH! how could a legitimate guy working on fusion energy "Think" its the strong force. he should KNOW that already. also in order for fusion to occur in a device like that it would have to be much larger and be powered by much more input energy.

[PsionNinja]

I'm sorry, where did you pass the comments along to?

I don't mind, I just don't know who you mean, or at least not sure. I'd be glad to see the info you have on hafnium. Obviously you thought of this already. Has it been worked with this project before?

[PsionNinja]

I had a thought. I came across an article a couple of weeks ago and found that the element hafnium has a curios property. If hafnium is exposed to x-rays, it gives back 60 times more gamma-rays that it receives in x-rays.

So I was thinking if some hafnium pucks were placed a 1/3rd of the way inside the "cube" the x-rays that would normally go to waste would be used to create gamma rays that would heat up the center of the unit.