Build a Farnsworth Fusor - Kevin's Guide

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the design and construction of a Farnsworth Fusor, a device intended for nuclear fusion. Participants explore the feasibility, safety concerns, and alternative approaches related to building such a device, including comparisons with Polywell reactors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Kevin expresses interest in building a Farnsworth Fusor but acknowledges the potential dangers involved, particularly regarding electrical safety.
  • One participant raises concerns about neutron radiation and suggests looking for resources on Wikipedia, while also mentioning the Polywell as an alternative.
  • Another participant claims that Farnsworth Fusors supposedly do not emit neutron radiation and questions the relative safety and ease of construction between Polywells and Farnsworth Fusors.
  • A later reply elaborates on the neutron emissions associated with fusion reactions, indicating that without fusion, the construction of a fusor may be pointless.
  • There is a discussion about the possibility of using air in the fusor, with one participant noting that while ionizing air could produce various forms of radiation, it would not lead to fusion reactions.
  • Kevin reflects on the project’s feasibility, expressing concerns about the costs of necessary materials like Helium-3 and Tritium, and acknowledges the potential for neutron emissions if fusion were to occur.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the safety and feasibility of building a Farnsworth Fusor. There are competing views regarding neutron radiation and the practicality of using alternative materials for fusion.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions about neutron emissions and the conditions necessary for fusion, but these points remain unresolved. The discussion reflects uncertainty about the safety and effectiveness of different fusion approaches.

Kevin_Axion
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I know it isn't recommended to engineer such a device since it could be dangerous because of the amps involved but can anybody provide any materials and plans in designing such a fusor?

Thanks, Kevin
 
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I'd be more worried about the neutron radiation, but then again electrocution is no fun either. I would start looking at wikipedia, it generally has enough links and sources to find something good. If you feel ambitious enough you should a polywell. For some reason my mother still refers to it as a polywog.
Best wished, I hope you find what you need. As a fan of IEC I hope you succeed.
 
Farnsworth Fusors don't emit neutron radiation, supposedly. What easier to make and safer, Polywells or Farnsworth Fusors?
 
Last edited:
Kevin_Axion said:
Farnsworth Fusors don't emit neutron radiation, supposedly. What easier to make and safer, Polywells or Farnsworth Fusors?
Neutrons are emitted from the fusion reaction (d,t) => 14.1 MeV neutrons, or 50% of (d,d) fusions => few MeV neutrons. If there is no fusion, then it's pretty pointless to build a fusor.

There are aneutronic reactions of which the easist is the other 50% of d+d which produces p+He3, or He3+d, which produces He4 + p. But with d in the mix, there is invariably (d,d) reactions producing neutrons. If one accelerate He3 into d, and keep d's below are reasonable energy threshold, then this mitigates neutron formation. However He3 is quite rare on earth, and is quite expensive.
 
What if you just use air?
 
Kevin_Axion said:
What if you just use air?
Well - one would ionize air and produce heat, infrared radiation, visible light, UV and possibly low energy X-rays depending on the potential. One will not however obtain fusion reactions.
 
Thanks, thought it would be an interesting project but now it just seems pointless (I can't afford Helium-3 although if I lived on the Moon I'd think otherwise and Tritium is like $30,000 for 10 grams) and unsafe, I wasn't sure if their would be neutron radiation. But Astronuc you're right if it were fusion then there would be neutron emissions and magnetic fields can't contain them, although if I had a block of lead it might scatter them back inside.
Anyways, Thanks, Kevin
 

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