While funding remains a critical factor, progress has been made in recent months in focus fusion research. Robert Terry of Naval Research Laboratory, who is collaborating with Lerner, has further developed techniques that can be used to simulate the complex process with in a dense plasma focus.

FFS Executive Director Eric J. Lerner is currently seeking NASA funding for focus fusion research.

A research group in Singapore, using electrodes quite similar to those proposed for the next set of focus fusion experiments, have demonstrated efficiency of energy transfer into plasmoid of at least 50%.

The NIST Advanced Technology Program announced its grant awards for 2004. Focus fusion passed the first gate which was based on technical merit. Unfortunately, we did not receive an award at the second gate which was based on commercialization potential. The feedback from the program did not indicate that they felt there was no commercialization potential, just that we had not made a strong enough case in our grant proposal.

We have competed preliminary anode design studies. These indicate that for copper, stress limits will not be exceeded as long as current at the base of the electrode does not exceed 0.75MA per cm of anode radius.  Interestingly enough, this is exactly the same as the “rule of thumb” limit, based on experimental experience, that was previously formulated by Bruce Freeman of Texas AM.

LPP received the first results from the small DPF we are collaborating with at Ferrara, Italy.  So far, only the main Rogowski coil which measures current and dI/dt and the neutron counters are working.  Noise problems are still being eliminated on the downstream Rogowski coils that measure the ion beams.

Preliminary Simulation Confirms Focus Fusion Can Produce Net Energy

Research work on Focus Fusion included efforts to develop an Advanced Technology Program (ATP) grant application with GMU.  The application focused on the DPF as a source of X-rays.  The collaboration with GMU was necessary as university partners are an asset in applying for this type of grant.

Volunteer Doug Olsen study of electrode design shows Beryllium anodes to be preferable to copper.

Electrode design is an important parameter in the functioning of a focus fusion reactor.  Focus Fusion volunteer Doug Olsen analyzes the thermal, mechanical stability of electrodes.

Note: Collaboration with the University of Ferrara has not progressed as they are still awaiting funding from the European Union. This endeavor is on hold.

In May 2003, Jorge Pouzo, a leading plasma focus researcher at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, initiated a discussion among DPF (dense plasma focus) scientists in North and South America aimed at forming a “Pan Americana DPF Club”, an organization of DPF researchers. The result has been the formation of an ongoing network for communication among the researchers, which has already produced valuable discussion and will lead to closer collaboration.

Lerner presented new theoretical results at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society in April 2003 (Philadelphia) and at the Fifth Symposium on Current Trends in International Fusion Research in March, 2003 (Washington, D.C.) showing that giga-gauss magnetic fields produced by the plasma focus will decrease the cooling of the plasma by x-rays, making net energy easier to achieve.

May 2003:  Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, National Autonomous University of Mexico Prepare New Focus Experiments.

How did LPP measure a billion degrees in their Billion Degree Breakthrough?  With no ordinary thermometer.