You didn't comment on http://www.focusfusion.org Do you think it's for real? I searched on "plasma focus" and it seems like a real device. Also, do you know anything about Colliding Beam Fusion? http://fusion.ps.uci.edu/beam/introb.html It also looks promising.
Power = 1/2 * Exhaust Velocity * Force
2000000000 watts = 1/2 * Ve * 2 N = Ve * 1 N
2000000000 watts / 1 N = Ve = 2000000000 m/s
Specific Impulse = Exhaust Velocity / Acceleration of Gravity
Isp = 2000000000 m/s / 9.8 m/s^2 = 204081632.6531 seconds
Now, if you're talking about...
Are you trying to say that radioactive waste isn't a problem? If that was so then why bother with fusion at all, just use fission. We do have enough fuel for millions of years.
Ummmm, I don't think you understand space propulsion. Efficiency is measured in specific impulse not thrust. So a...
But not ALL of the neutrons react with the lithium, some will smash into the reactor walls and make them radioactive. Obviously it doesn't produce nearly as much radioactive waste as fission but it still produces some.
That's disappointing. Another major application of fusion is space...
Dr. Greenman,
In your opinion, what is the most promising approach to fusion that will produce net energy? Also, do you think it's really worth it trying to induce fusion in commercially impractical fuels like Deuterium-Tritium or Deuterium-Deuterium, which produce high energy neutrons and...
This paper I found talks about it, maybe you've read it:
Confinement Of Pure Ion Plasma In A Cylindrical Current Sheet
Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University
http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/15113-w7GWk3/webviewable/15113.pdf
Abstract. A novel method for containing a...
Back on the topic of fusion...
Dr. Greenman,
I'm an undergrad in math, but one of my fascinations is with fusion, which I read as much as I can find on. I have a question regarding radiation losses in the plasma. From what I've read, one of the major losses is bremsstrahlung radiation...
This is sort of an unusual question (and I'm not even sure this is the right forum for it) but here goes. I'm doing a project where theoretically a human would be kept immersed in a liquid for long periods of time and I'm wondering what liquid would be the best for this. The most obvious...
The nanotubes are all formed into rings and each ring interlocks with surrounding rings, forming a sort of molecular chainmail.
Well you have to make the nanotubes long enough to weave into a pattern. You can't weave nanotubes that are only a few nano/micrometers long because you would need...
See I don't think that's it. It's easy to grow tons of short ones but longer ones are much harder. Here's an article about scientists growing a nanotube to a "world record length of 4 cm":
http://www.lanl.gov/news/releases/archive/04-076.shtml
And here's a company in China that mass...
(I'm not a material engineer so I apologize if any part of this post is idiotic.)
The main problem with carbon nanotubes is the difficulty with growing them long enough to be of any use. After doing some research, I found a site about carbon nanotube rings. So it got me thinking, why not...
There is also MITEE, which is a rather recent design study on nuclear thermal propulsion. It can be found at this site:
http://www.newworlds.com/mitee.html [Broken]
The weight of there main reactor design using U-235 is about 70 kg. What's more surprising is the whole engine weighs just...