Ext 8

The Polywell™ is a concept for a fusion reactor that creates fusion through electrostatically accelerating ions. Ions, like deuterium, can be "heated" by accelerating them across a voltage. "Heated" ions can slam head onto one another and fuse. The device consists of six electromagnets, spaced apart in a cube. The cube is contained inside a vacuum chamber. Each electromagnet creates a magnetic field which interferes with one another in the center, where there is no field. Electrons are injected into this void. Electrons re-circulate into and out of the center, but effectively there is a huge mass of them in the center. This acts like a big point charge. It is theorized that with so many electrons together; the cloud could behave diamagnetically. This behavior is referred to as the "whifle ball" and it helps trap electrons. Once the point charge is established, ions are injected. The ions are attracted by the electrons. They fall towards the center, slam into one another, and fuse. Many different interactions occur inside the center. The most common event is ion-ion collisions which do not result in fusion. Ideally, these collisions would be elastic enough to conserve the energy of the system. Electron-ion collisions generally do not result in recombination because the ions are at too high of an energy. There is also X-rays being generated, as well as a glow discharge which cools the plasma. The major argument against the polywell working is that the device will thermalize. Thermalization is when the cloud of ions in the center assumes a bell energy curve. The work mainly referred to in the film which discusses this, is that of Dr. Todd Rider. Aside from thermalization, some other research challenges include:

1. X-ray Cooling
2. Arching inside the device
3. Firing in the ions at the correct electric potential. If the polywell can be kept from thermalizing; is a question which lies at the heart of its viability.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Secretary Chu
• Steven Chu
• Department of Energy
• DOE
• Recovery Act
• ARRA
• Smart Grid
• smartgrid
• energy.gov/recovery
• obama adminstraition
• stimulus
• barack obama

[PolywellFan4512]

@Isochroma Someone needs to prove that these phenomena do or do not exist. It is true, Rider estimated that ion-electron energy exchange, as well as bremsstrahlung, collisional effects, and core spreading should be faster then the fusion rate, but if Nebel get legit data, then the Riders theory is completely debunked; If a theory disagrees with experiment, then the theory is wrong. We wait and see.

[PolywellFan4512]

Not enough info to call it yet. Riders: A general critique of internal-electrostatic confinement fusion systems, did not account for diamagnetic plasma, or a virtual anode. Both phenomena have a chance of changing device behavior. Rider did not account for this. He assumes quasineutrality everywhere.

[Isochroma]

Polywell fusion is and always will be a failure.