July Switch Update
This update on the switch situation from the LPPX July Focus Fusion Report:
Challenges
Fusion. Always "50 years" away, "3 to 4 miracles" away. "Oversold" yet underfunded. What's going on?
Fusion faces many serious technological challenges. At the same time, many diverse, potentially faster routes to fusion are not adequately supported. Thus, if we want to systematically address the technological challenges to fusion, we have to deal with quite a few socio-economical and psychological challenges.
Barriers exist in the fusion research establishment as well as in the general public. If we can accurately identify and understand the full range of actual barriers to fusion, we can develop an effective strategy to help make it happen.
Posts in this category
Science and Social Validation
The following is an excerpt from Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s “The Black Swan”. It captures the pain of pursuing science in a world of limited metrics for “success”. Read this and see if it doesn’t increase your compassion for those courageous enough to venture into the unknown.
It is included in the “social challenges” category of this website because fusion, “oversold” yet underfunded, is the poster child for getting this kind of flak.
The Stagecoach and the Spaceship
Not all fusion is created equal, but few are aware of this. Here we compare conventional fusion (“the stagecoach”) with aneutronic fusion (“the spaceship”).
The role of a nonprofit in promoting aneutronic fusion
The ultimate goal of the Focus Fusion Society is to help bring about safe, clean, abundant, ideal energy for everyone. But what, exactly, do we DO toward that end?
Fusion Concept Monitor beta
Wondering what to do on Earth day to promote fusion? Try out the “Aneutronic Fusion Concept Monitor - beta” (pdf file).
Social Currency
As with many other nonprofit organizations, the Focus Fusion Society wants to leverage “social media.” We’ve all heard about “viral marketing”. We’d love to get the idea of aneutronic fusion and the LPP experiments to spread virally.
But how does that happen? Do we have to develop an “aneutronic fusion virus”? Find people who are good at spreading viruses?
ICC recap and Bill Gates TED talk review
On February 16-19, PPPL hosted the ICC Workshop (Innovative Confinement Concepts). This coincided with Bill Gates’ TED talk, in which he proposed nuclear fission innovations as a solution to the world energy+CO2 crisis. These two events can be juxtaposed with proactive implications for Fusion research strategy.
How Hard Is It?
Fusion faces serious technical challenges. Splitting the atom is a walk in the park compared to fusing atoms. If DT fusion is difficult, aneutronic fusion faces even more daunting challenges.
Energy Secretary Steve Chu and Focus Fusion
Energy Secretary Steven Chu gave a talk at Google, Oct. 26, 2009. During the question and answer period, someone asks him about Focus Fusion.
