Allan Brewer - 25 December 2010 08:28 PM

I’m working on an in-silico simulation of exit beam energy capture right now - will report back when results are solid.

Nice. what tools are you using?

Writing from scratch in .NET Visual Studio, with a physics text book by my side!

What is a respectable wage to give the student?      $10-25.00 per hour depending on the major.

I wish I had this type of wage…

zapkitty - 17 December 2010 11:56 PM

...how many useful things could be investigated without using a DPF at all?

My vision of the future my grandchildren will live in includes fusion-powered planes, trains, trucks and ships.  5 MW (and multiples thereof) would have applications in transportation, an energy-intensive sector of the world economy.  Reduction in size and weight of auxilliary systems (ie capacitors, switches, shielding, etc.) would be needed.  Research and Development in those areas would be useful.

P.S.  It’s been a while since I last posted.

Welcome back Jolly Roger….I liked Eric’s reference to an author’s idea (source?) of developing an underground magnetic levitating train system that could travel at supersonic speeds, constructed and powered by Focus Fusion generators, of course!

The main cost of an underground evacuated tube maglev train would not be power—the capital costs would be staggering.  Even if power were free, such an enterprise would not be cost effective.

True, it would be expensive. But maybe in the 1800’s they’d have said the same thing about a network of flying machines able to cross the country in six hours or less, with each “aero port” having restaurants and flush toilets for everyone…

Jolly Roger - 12 December 2011 08:25 AM

zapkitty - 17 December 2010 11:56 PM

...how many useful things could be investigated without using a DPF at all?

My vision of the future my grandchildren will live in includes fusion-powered planes, trains, trucks and ships.  5 MW (and multiples thereof) would have applications in transportation, an energy-intensive sector of the world economy.  Reduction in size and weight of auxilliary systems (ie capacitors, switches, shielding, etc.) would be needed.  Research and Development in those areas would be useful.

P.S.  It’s been a while since I last posted.

I know Elon Musk, of TeslaMotors and SpaceX, has a “next big project” in the back of his mind—electric planes with 12,000-mi range.  FF could do that for him.