Fusion or not with Van De Graaff machine and very high voltage

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of using a Van De Graaff (VDG) machine to generate extremely high voltages, potentially leading to fusion reactions. Participants explore theoretical designs and practical challenges associated with achieving and maintaining such high voltages, particularly in the context of using deuterium or tritium gas mixtures.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a design involving multiple VDG machines working together to magnify voltage, suggesting that this could theoretically achieve voltages of 100 million volts or higher.
  • Another participant challenges the practicality of the proposal, arguing that real lightning does not produce sustained fusion reactions and questioning the feasibility of the described method.
  • A different participant clarifies that the design is not about manipulating real lightning but rather about achieving high voltage through theoretical means.
  • One participant shares personal experience building a simple VDG and directing charges to a larger metal ball, indicating uncertainty about the overall effectiveness of the proposed design.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed VDG design for achieving fusion. There is no consensus on whether the approach could lead to successful outcomes.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in their experimental attempts and the theoretical nature of the proposed designs. There are unresolved questions regarding the stability of high voltages and the efficiency of charge transfer in the proposed configurations.

stevecheang
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Using a Van De Graaff (VDG) machine, we can easily generate million-volt high voltage. The high potential difference can be generated effectively with minimum energy supplied to the machine. The larger the volume of the machine would be, the higher the voltage could get. However, stability would be a problem when the voltage gets to over 10 million-volts. This issue could be resolved with ‘magnified’ machine design. For example,

VDG1, VDG2, VDG3 ==> VDGA
VDG4, VDG5, VDG6 ==> VDGB
VDG7, VDG8, VDG9 ==> VDGC
…
VDGA, VDGB, VDGC ==> VDGX

In that case, VDGA works like a magnifier which aggregates the positive charge (or negative charge conducted from smaller VDGs) and collectively ‘magnifies’ the voltage to higher voltage. Of course, a portion of the positive charge could be lost in the process. However, it could theoretically be possible to keep majority of it until the voltage gets elevated to 100 million volts or higher. With such high voltage working on the deuterium or tritium, gas mixture which could be mixed from a source of gaseous catalyst, selected from the group consisting of beryllium, carbonates, hydroxides, halides, sulfates, phosphates, and sulfides. The reaction produces natural lightning, or occasional fusion reaction if you like.
 
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Sounds pretty impractical to me. After all, real lightning can't produce fusion (unless maybe for a couple of unlucky atoms that get caught in a nasty cross-fire). Certainly not any sustained reaction.
 
Thanks, Danger. However, the design described here is not about real lightning. You don't get to manipulate real lightning with the addition deuterium or tritium in the picture. You don't get as high voltage as the design theoretically could (if it works).
 
Someone asked, "Have you tried the theory to magnify the voltage?" I actually tried building a simple VDG and direct the charges to another larger metal ball (not a VDG) successfully. However, I have never tried more than that. Hence, it would be difficult for me to say for sure whether it definitely would work.
 

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