About FFS

• Why “Aneutronic” nuclear fusion?
• Why “Focus Fusion”?
• What happens if it works - or if it doesn’t work?  
• Is FFS conducting experiments in fusion?  (No, LPP is.)
• What is LPP, and how is it related to FFS?
• What does FFS do?
• What does membership involve?
• What are our values and principles? 
• What are our funding needs?
• Legal info
• Contact Us

Why “Aneutronic” nuclear fusion?

We need fusion to help end poverty and the environmental crisis.  But not just any fusion, aneutronic fusion.  If fusion is the “holy grail” of energy, then aneutronic fusion is holier.  It’s the Elvis of holy grails of energy. 

This is NOT cold fusion.  It’s hot.  Billions of degrees.  You’re very unlikely to produce excess energy unless you are creating fusion in a hot, dense plasma. 

So what’s different about “aneutronic fusion”?  “Aneutronic” means “no neutrons.” There are NO neutrons as a by product of aneutronic fusion reactions.  No neutrons means no radioactivity.  No radioactivity,  no radioactive waste,  and no weapons capability. 

Safe, clean energy.

Also, no neutrons, no steam.  Instead – you get electricity directly.

A comparison of typical Conventional and aneutronic fusion fuels

There are several candidates for conventional fusion as well as aneutronic fusion reactions.  Here we compare the most common:

Conventional:  The product of deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion is helium and neutrons.  The neutrons create heat, which boil water to produce steam.  This runs a steam engine.  In other words, you are using a futuristic fuel to power an 18th century steam engine. 

Aneutronic:  In contrast, the product of hydrogen-boron (pB11) fusion is three positively charged helium ions and NO neutrons.  The helium ions ARE electricity.  So pB11 generates electricity directly.  You cut out the 18th century steam engine technology. 
Here is a more detailed comparison of DT and pB11 fusion.

Aneutronic Challenge

While aneutronic fusion is clearly preferable to deuterium tritium (DT) fusion, it’s also much more difficult to achieve.  Some would say impossible.

Because the goal of DT fusion, an “easier” fusion, continues to elude mankind, the goal of aneutronic fusion is rarely considered.  It’s the hardest energy problem to solve, but why compromise? (Energy crisis got you down?)  And why settle for energy solutions that are inherently compromises?  Shoot for the ideal.  We just might succeed. 

We seek to get the concept of aneutronic fusion recognized, build awareness of it, advocate for it, champion it, pursue it, achieve it and make the result available to all mankind.  Join us!

Why “Focus Fusion”?

“Focus Fusion” is the fusion of hydrogen and Boron fuel (pB11) in a dense plasma focus (DPF) fusion reactor.  This fusion reaction is aneutronic. 

Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) Advantage

The reactor used in Focus Fusion, the DPF, is a fascinating device.  It’s simple, elegant, compact and with many applications – one of which may turn out to be producing net energy from controlled nuclear fusion. 

While most pursue fusion by attempting to stabilize plasma with giant machines, the DPF leverages the plasma’s instability. Here is a comparison of conventional fusion with focus fusion.  [see also DPF approach to fusion challenges].

The number of organizations that are actively pursuing aneutronic fusion is small [see contenders – see forum discussion ‘til section set up].  The number pursuing focus fusion is even smaller – one:  Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc. (LPP) (some additional dpf research related to fusion >>)

“Focus Fusion” –is conceptually the most elegant and ideal form of fusion.  If it works, it will be safe, clean, cheap, unlimited and easily distributed. 

Focus Fusion is also the quickest and least expensive fusion idea to test.  A series of experiments to test it – proof of concept phase - have been initiated by LPP. The experiments are scheduled to take 2 years and cost $5 million. 

It’s ideal, it’s quick and easy to test, and it’s being tested.  “Focus Fusion” is thus the first object of our quest for aneutronic fusion.

What happens if it works…or if it doesn’t work?

Best Case: 

If Focus Fusion, the primary object of our quest, is achieved on schedule (see 2 year experiment), the Focus Fusion Society will focus its attention on the logistics of making the energy available to all mankind and helping with the transition to fusion world.  With such an easy victory in the realms of physics and engineering, the harder task may be facing down entrenched energy giants and other socio-economic barriers (see “threshhold guardians”).

Worst Case:

If the object is not achieved on schedule, the situation will be re-evaluated.  We will, collectively and individually, know more about Focus Fusion by then, more about fusion in general, more about the contenders and more about what we (members) want and are capable of.  We will also have to keep an eye on compelling renewables and conservation strategies as a fallback.

In any case:

In either case, this coming year will be important for the evolution of FFS.  This is the year we witness the LPP experiment unfold.  It is also the year of developing FFS into a broader-based, dynamic champion of aneutronic fusion with a more robust user interface for FFS members.  See our goals.

Is FFS conducting experiments in fusion?  (No, LPP is.)

FFS is not currently conducting experiments in fusion, LPP is.

The Focus Fusion experiment we follow on the site – the LPP Experiment - is being carried out by Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc. (LPP), a private research corporation.

In December, 2008, LPP announced that they had raised sufficient funds to initiate a two year long experimental project to test the feasibility of Focus Fusion (proof-of-concept).  [Note:  for information on completion funds and to invest in LPP’s research, you need to contact LPP directly.  Accredited investors only.]

FFS has the privilege of documenting these experiments.  Like embedded journalists, we have the best seat in the house for watching the LPP experiment unfold and reporting in accordance with LPP’s policy on releasing research results.

As we document the experiment, we are developing educational materials on the theory and mechanics of focus fusion and related topics.

As we follow LPP’s progress, we become aware of the technical challenges of aneutronic fusion, as well as the socio-economic issues that face innovators as they seek to develop and test an idea. 

Exploring the technical issues will help shed light on aneutronic fusion.  Exploring and analyzing the socio-economic issues will shed insight into the intersection of innovation, economy, society and politics that are sector wide, and reveal actions we can take to support fusion, and other innovation in general.

What is LPP, and how is it related to FFS

FFS is not synonymous with LPP.

One way to distinguish them is to say that:

• LPP is a private technology company, conducting specific scientific proof-of-concept experiments to show the feasibility of pB11 fusion with the dense plasma focus.
• FFS is a nonprofit charity and membership organization that offers broad-based support of the pursuit of aneutronic fusion through education, advocacy and the exploration of issues surrounding this quest.  FFS is also a social place to have fun with science, the environment and saving the world.

Another important distinction for those who want to contribute financially:

• LPP is a for profit corporation and can only accept money from accredited investors.  Accredited investors should go to LPP’s website for more info.
• FFS is a tax-exempt charity.  Anyone can donate and donations are tax deductible.  Donate now! Proceeds will be used by FFS as described below.

The difference between donating and investing?  Investors risk losing money when they invest, but also stand to gain money should the venture succeed.  Donors give their money with no expectation of financial return.  Their hope is for social or environmental return.  If you are not an accredited investor, you can certainly give LPP money for their experiment, but not with any expectation of financial return.  If they do succeed, the accredited investors will be free riders on your uncompensated contribution.  If that seems unfair, these are SEC rules - discuss in forums.

Initially, FFS was a basic membership organization, and its goal was to raise funds for LPP’s focus fusion research directly.

While FFS never directly raised the kind of money needed for research, it has had a positive impact on LPP’s success by creating awareness of focus fusion. Our site has enabled many people to discover and explore the ideas of focus fusion.  One of these people worked at Google and secured an invitation for Eric to speak there, resulting in a Google tech video.  A number of FFS site visitors have turned out to be investors. As Eric Lerner stated: 

[we got] a trickle of income, not much, from FFS.  This in no way reflects the real impact of the site on our operations, since nearly all of the money LPP has received to support our research came from investors who first learned of focus fusion through the FFS website. So in a real sense, FFS is indeed fulfilling its goal of funding the research, although not directly.

All told, the attempt to raise funds for research directly is no longer being pursued.  We continue developing as an aneutronic fusion advocacy organization, with social-media experiments.

Officially, FFS became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity nonprofit as of October, 2005. 

Eric Lerner, president of LPP, was also the executive director of FFS, until September 22, 2009. 

On September 22, 2009, Eric resigned as FFS’s executive director to work full time on the experiments with LPP.  He is still involved as the science advisor for FFS.  Rezwan Razani, long time volunteer and occasionally paid webmaster, was voted in as the new executive director of FFS.  She held the position until September 2011.  The organization is presently in transition, seeking a new executive director.  Unfortunately, we have not had sufficient funds for a director since September of 2010.  Please donate to enable the organization to flourish!

What does FFS do?

The primary function of the Focus Fusion Society is to build, empower and serve a community focused on a common goal:  the quest for aneutronic fusion. 

Insurance:  Awareness of focus fusion and its potential impact on society will pave the way for the sort of very broad public support that will be needed to overcome the resistance of entrenched energy interests and to make focus fusion a reality. 

(In other words, we have a bit of paranoia about being shut down by those who would rather not have cheap, unlimited energy, for whatever shortsighted, nefarious reason.  Being out in the open with lots of supporters would make suppression more difficult).

Documentation and Education:  We document the LPP Experiment with photography, film and articles.  We develop educational materials and write think pieces on focus fusion, plasma physics and socio-ecomonic issues related to the quest for fusion. 

Advocacy, lobbying, prize: We advocate for aneutronic fusion, we lobby for it, in order to create a better funding and research climate.  We also lobby for a fusion prize. 

About the Website

The focusfusion.org website is the primary platform that supports our community.  It’s a cyber clubhouse for fusion aficionados.  Our website aims to be a content and feature-rich networking platform that will empower our members to explore and connect and carry out the quest.  Currently, the forums enable a lot of interaction, but other features will make the website even more useful for members.

The website is being upgraded to enable members to supply content and develop materials, and come up with whatever they come up with to extend the reach of the quest. 

If you have web design skills, are familiar with CSS, XHTML or expression engine and would like to speed up the transformation of the site, contact us. 

How will this result in a fusion for mankind?

The history of technology shows that the socio-economic and political climate play a major role in what ends up getting funded.  The road of innovation is littered with heart break and tears.  The risk makes most people conservative.  In business, politics and academia, it’s much easier to find support and financial backing for incremental changes to established technologies, methods or theories.  It’s much harder to muster support for more daring innovations.  [In fusion, some other funding traditions hold firm – discuss!] 

FFS will improve the research and funding environment which will improve the likelihood of research in aneutronic fusion.  Whether or not this research will result in a working fusion reactor is dependent on factors outside of our control.

Ultimately, socio-economic and political factors can’t change the laws of nature.  It’s up to teams of scientists, engaged in their specific research projects, to develop working fusion reactors, within the limits of science.  In other words, we can draw attention to LPP et al, but it will be up to LPP, with its experiments and corporate policy, to:

• Demonstrate net-energy output with fusion,
• Develop streamlined, practical, low cost power plants that can be mass produced,
• Ensure that the results of all fusion research are published in scientific journals and otherwise made available to the entire scientific community for peer review and replication. 
• Adopt a distribution/deployment/licensing model that will diffuse such power plants throughout the world in the most effective way possible to encourage global economic growth and environmental health.

We hope LPP succeeds, and quickly.  Focus fusion is the most elegant, ideal aneutronic fusion concept out there.  We dream of the day we will celebrate the ultimate victory. 

Membership

Discuss your expectations of membership in the forums

FFS is a membership organization.  A community is made up of its members, and derives all its strength and identity from them.  Thus, every community is dynamic, changing and growing along with its members.

Two tier membership?

Currently, there are two kinds of membership.  Basic website, and dues paying.  Anyone can register on the website for free, and post in the forums. Register to become a website member!   We currently have over 1000 website members. 

In contrast, per the charter, dues paying members get voting privileges at the annual business meeting and some other perks.  Become a dues-paying member today.

Annual Meetings

Per the charter, FFS has annual meetings via conference call that are open to dues-paying members. We notify dues-paying members of these meetings via email.  We accept suggestions from all our members (dues and website) on all issues throughout the year.

Values & Principles:

See our values and principles document. Discuss the values and principles in the forums.

A summary:  energy accessibility, wealth and a clean environment for everyone, possibility, inclusiveness, diversity, empirical science, immediacy, generosity, curiosity, fun, hedging bets, best efforts, integrity…

Funding Needs

As noted, there was a time when FFS sought to fund LPP’s fusion research directly.  We no longer do that.  Accredited investors who wish to fund LPP must contact LPP directly. 

If you wish to support the Focus Fusion Society as it builds community and pursues aneutronic fusion, this is the right place. Please sign up as a dues paying member (automatic annual renewal), or make a one time donation (any amount, non-renewing). 

As we are a membership organization, much of the work will be voluntarily done by members, using social media and other tools (website, educational materials, events, conferences, and so forth).  However, developing the tools to empower our members and coordinate their collaboration requires general operating funds and some dedicated staff. 

The key question is, what is the minimum team of paid staff required to build and maintain FFS and how best can they be deployed? 

We’re developing a strategic plan and budget to address these questions.  But don’t wait for a final budget.  Right now, we have no staff, and a backlog of projects.  Donate now (time, talent, money or all three!) and become a key supporter in tackling these projects on the road to fusion.  Here is a summary of what your current funding will help pay for: 

• Day-to-day operations: overhead, staff, servers, hosting, bandwidth
• Continued development & improvements of the website and forums.
• Continued development of quality content for site (writers, editors)
• Documentation of the LPP Experiment, (cost includes equipment)
• Production of films and educational materials
• Development of scenarios (e.g., soliciting experts in economics and spatial planning to generate possible scenarios of a fusion world based on viable theories)
• Lobbying to create a better funding and research climate for fusion alternatives.
• Outreach for building awareness – press, internet outreach, updating peripheral sites
• Outreach and collaboration for a fusion prize.
• Other outreach events, such as talks, panel discussionsto be developed.
• Volunteer support: helping our cyber and live volunteer community to grow and to do amazing things.

Like what we’re doing?  Donate now!

Legal

The Focus Fusion Society is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity nonprofit as of October, 2005.  We are a membership organization.  We are run by volunteers.

Contact Us

Focus Fusion Society
PO Box 232
South Bound Brook, NJ 08880

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)