Interview with Thomas Ligon on the Polywell (5 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.

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[PolywellFan4512]

Very True. The real answer is: we don't know. More research needs to be done. If it is not going to work, we better be damn sure of it. Since this machine has so much potential for producing clean, green, steady, abundant, cheap energy.

[ytam00]

At 7:05, "It is hard to imagine any popoulation not going to a bell curve."

Bell curve is okay as long as the peak is above fusion energy, and narrow. Thermalized smears them all out from zero. There are plenty of other systems where the population is confined in a narrow non-thermal energy range (think lasers, for example).