UCLA Researchers Produce Nuclear Fusion

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a recent tabletop experiment that reportedly achieved nuclear fusion under laboratory conditions. Participants are exploring the implications of this experiment for clean energy solutions, while also addressing the limitations of the energy yield produced.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the experiment produced nuclear fusion but with a low energy yield of 900 n/s, which may not be sufficient for practical energy solutions.
  • Others mention that the method involved using a pyroelectric crystal (Li tantalate) to accelerate deuterons at a deuterated target.
  • A participant highlights that due to the low yield, commercialization is being considered only for a portable neutron generator rather than as a clean energy source.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the low yield of the fusion experiment and its implications for commercialization, but there is no consensus on the potential future applications or significance of the findings.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not clarify the assumptions underlying the energy yield measurement or the specific conditions of the experiment, which may affect interpretations of the results.

Who May Find This Useful

Researchers and enthusiasts in the fields of nuclear engineering, clean energy technology, and experimental physics may find this discussion relevant.

loseyourname
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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=753&e=1&u=/ap/20050427/ap_on_sc/tabletop_fusion

LOS ANGELES - A tabletop experiment created nuclear fusion — long seen as a possible clean energy solution — under lab conditions, scientists reported. But the amount of energy produced was too little to be seen as a breakthrough in solving the world's energy needs.

The article says that the results of this experiment will be published in Thursday's edition of Nature. I'm sure many of you have subscriptions. Would anybody care to recap?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
I'll check it out tomorrow (assuming it'll be online as of the publication date).

- Warren
 
Thanks Warren.
 
ZapperZ posted about it in Nuclear Engineering forum.

Table-top fusion?
Apparently so - using pyroelectric crystal (Li tantalate) to produce a potential which accelerate deutrons at a deuterated target. Low yield though - 900 n/s.
 
Astronuc said:
Low yield though - 900 n/s.
That's why Putterman said he's only considering commercializing this as a portable neutron generator.
 

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