{"id":9546,"date":"2014-12-30T20:40:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-31T01:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=9546"},"modified":"2014-12-30T20:40:00","modified_gmt":"2014-12-31T01:40:00","slug":"sci-tech-focus-fusion-project-update-from-lppfusion-inc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=9546","title":{"rendered":"Sci-Tech: Focus fusion project update from LPPFusion, Inc."},"content":{"rendered":"

LPPFusion, Inc.<\/a>, formerly\u00a0Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc<\/a>, offers some\u00a0updates on recent developments in their focus fusion<\/a> program:<\/p>\n

*\u00a0Tungsten Cathode Nears Completion after Long Delays<\/a><\/p>\n

The long-awaited tungsten cathode is finally nearing completion in a Chinese factory.\u00a0 According to the latest reports by California-based Tungsten Heavy Powder(THP), which is performing the work in China, machining will be complete within a few weeks and delivery to LPPFusion should occur by mid-February. The 99.95% pure tungsten piece has been in the machining process for nearly two months. Because pure tungsten is as brittle as ceramic and liable to cracking, the part must be removed from machining frequently and heat-treated to relieve internal stress.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"samllerelectrode-270x318[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Given the extreme difficult of making the tungsten cathode, why does LPPFusion not go directly to the final beryllium electrodes? The answer is that tungsten, with its extreme resistance to heat, is the lowest risk material for the next step of our experiment. We need to eliminate evaporation of the electrode and the resulting impurities to get a jump in the density of our plasmoid, and in the resulting fusion energy output or yield. We have firm experimental evidence that tungsten does not erode under the condition FF-1 is currently running. While we have developed and published well-founded theories of how pre-ionization can stop erosion<\/a> of much less heat-resistant materials like beryllium, we still need to test those theories experimentally. That we can do safely with tungsten, with risking damage to the electrodes or disappointing fusion results. In this way we will confirm or refine the theories and technique, paving the way for the beryllium electrodes.<\/em><\/p>\n

Those beryllium electrodes will be ready when we need them. We expect to order them in January, with delivery in the first half of 2015.<\/em><\/p>\n

*\u00a0LPPF Releases Processed Data to Researchers and the Public<\/a><\/p>\n

LPPFusion, Inc. has made available on our website the data in ourProcessed Data Base <\/a>to all researchers, both professional and amateur. This data provides the key observations for each shot from the start of operation of Focus Fusion-1 in 2009 through the end of 2013 for four instruments: the Main Rogowski coil (MRC), High Voltage Probe (HVP), the Near Time of Flight (NTF) and Far Time of Flight (FTF) detectors. This gives data on the current and voltage produced during a shot and the neutrons and x-rays emitted.\u00a0 We are making this data publically available in the expectation that other researchers will be able to use the data to provide new insights into the functioning of the Dense Plasma Focus device and advance the field generally.<\/em><\/p>\n

*\u00a0Physics of Plasmas Publishes LPPFusion\u2019s Runaway Electron Theory<\/a><\/p>\n

Physics of Plasmas, the leading journal in the field of plasma physics, has published LPPFusion\u2019s new paper on \u201cRunaway electrons as a source of impurity and reduced fusion yield in the dense plasma focus\u201d. The paper, by Chief Scientist Eric J. Lerner and Chief Research Officer Hamid R. Yousefi, was published online<\/a>\u00a0October 22, 2014 less than a month after it was submitted for peer-review. Physics of Plasmas had published a previous LPPFusion paper<\/a> on record-breaking ion energies in 2012.<\/em><\/p>\n

The new paper describes the evidence that runaway electrons are a key cause of vaporization of electrodes in the dense plasma focus device, an idea first reported <\/a>on LPPFusion\u2019s website in April of this year. Runaway electrons occur when very strong electric fields, such as in lightning bolts, accelerate electrons moving through a mainly neutral gas. If the field is strong enough the electrons gain more energy between each collision with an atom than they lose in the collision, thus speeding up to high energy.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LPPFusion, Inc., formerly\u00a0Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc, offers some\u00a0updates on recent developments in their focus fusion program: *\u00a0Tungsten Cathode Nears Completion after Long Delays The long-awaited tungsten cathode is finally nearing completion in a Chinese factory.\u00a0 According to the latest reports by California-based Tungsten Heavy Powder(THP), which is performing the work in China, machining will be … Continue reading Sci-Tech: Focus fusion project update from LPPFusion, Inc.<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science-and-technology"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-2tY","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10327,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=10327","url_meta":{"origin":9546,"position":0},"title":"Sci-Tech: Focus fusion program update from LPP Fusion","author":"TopSpacer","date":"April 9, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"LPP Fusion, which has been investigating the Focus Fusion approach to nuclear fusion power generation, has posted its latest update:\u00a0LPP Focus Fusion\u00a0Report April 7, 2015\u00a0- Tungsten Cathode Arrives, FF-1 Re-Assembly Moves Forward USCIS Threatens Revocation of Dr. Yousefi\u2019s Visa, Appeal Planned Beryllium Electrodes Ordered, Import Application Submitted \u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Science and Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9050,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=9050","url_meta":{"origin":9546,"position":1},"title":"Sci-Tech: LPP focus fusion update","author":"TopSpacer","date":"October 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I recently listed updates on five fusion power projects. There are an number of other such alternative projects underway that stand a good chance of beating the big tokamak and laser fusion programs that eat up all the government fusion funding. (Similar to the way NASA's\u00a0SLS\/Orion boondoggles eat up funding\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Science and Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10656,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=10656","url_meta":{"origin":9546,"position":2},"title":"Sci-Tech: Updates on four alternative fusion power projects","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Some items regarding projects involved in alternative approaches to fusion power: * Dr. Matthew Moynihan will be on The Space Show today to discuss the Polywell system\u00a0for producing fusion energy:\u00a0 7-8:30 pm\u00a0PDT (10-11:30 pm\u00a0EST, 9-10:30 pm\u00a0CDT). * Here's some news about\u00a0three fusion projects - General Fusion\u00a0in Canada,\u00a0 Helion Energy\u00a0in Seattle,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Science and Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8763,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=8763","url_meta":{"origin":9546,"position":3},"title":"Sci-Tech: LPP Fusion update","author":"TopSpacer","date":"September 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The latest update from\u00a0Lawrenceville Plasma Physics\u00a0(LPPFusion)\u00a0, which is developing an aneutronic focus fusion power system, is\u00a0now available on line: \u00a0LPP Fusion Report September 8th 2014\u00a0- LPP Focus Fusion Report September 8, 2014 Summary: * Fusion Policy: Nature calls for funding aneutronic fusion; ARPA-E puts $30 million for fusion alternatives; Science\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Science and Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4702,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=4702","url_meta":{"origin":9546,"position":4},"title":"Sci-Tech: Carter Aviation makes progress on high speed, long distance VTOL\/STOL aircraft","author":"TopSpacer","date":"September 28, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been following Carter Aviation Technologies for years as they developed their\u00a0Slowed-Rotor\/Compound (\"SR\/C\u2122\") Technology, which couples the speed, range and efficiency of an airplane with the vertical takeoff and landing (\"VTOL\") capability of a helicopter and is scalable in size from very small unmanned aerial vehicles (\"UAVs\") to large transport\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Science and Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/qh6ZCXBiRSQ\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7909,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=7909","url_meta":{"origin":9546,"position":5},"title":"Sci-Tech: LPP focus fusion project crowd-funds final phase of research","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I've occasionally blogged about the focus fusion project at\u00a0Lawrenceville Plasma Physics. With very modest funding they have made solid progress with experiments that seek to demonstrate\u00a0that their approach can produce aneutronic fusion power in a relatively small system. To support the completion of the project, they have opened a crowd-funding\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Science and Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9546"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9548,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9546\/revisions\/9548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}