September report released

[vlad]

http://www.lawrencevilleplasmaphysics.com/images/lpp_focus_fusion_report_sept_23_2013.pdf
Very interesting. I didn’t expect that relative amount of impurities in plasma is SO high. This explains a lot…

About monolithic tungsten cathode.
It must be expensive, difficult to make, and difficult to remaster (i.e. in case if you want to change its geometry).
May be we can think on monolithic copper cathode, fully covered with a thin solid layer of tungsten?
The thin layer can be created with chemical vapor deposition, electrolitic deposition, ray deposition and so on – I don’t know exactly which one is better to use with tungsten.

If it is possible at all, this could reduce cost, difficulties and timescales, since copper is cheap and easy to work with.

In addition, the layer of tungsten created with some sort of deposition can – theoretically – have a crystal lattice close to ideal, in comparison with mechanically mastered tungsteen which would definetely have a lot of defects, both lattice defects and macro defects. These defects can affect electrical properties of the cathode, making them non-uniform.

[Matt M]

It was good to see the report. I was particularly impressed that LPPX is offering a complete copy of their experimental results.

I understand that the current plasma is being ‘poisoned’ by small amounts of copper and silver. But – won’t the tungston cathode contribute tungston impurities to the plasma?

I will be happy to contribute to a crowd funding process. I have said to several friends that if I won the Lottery – I would send a great big check to LPPX. Sans Lottery – I can still send a little one!

[zapkitty]

Matt M wrote: I understand that the current plasma is being ‘poisoned’ by small amounts of copper and silver. But – won’t the tungsten cathode contribute tungsten impurities to the plasma?

Tungsten is much harder than copper or silver and has a much higher heat of vaporization than either of those metals.

heat of vaporization:
silver: 250.58 kJ·mol−1
copper: 300.4 kJ·mol−1
tungsten: 806.7 kJ·mol−1

Interesting to note that there’s no reading for tungsten in that chart… and there’s a ring of tungsten with “teeth” at the base of the anode.

[Joeviocoe]

Arcing;
Leaking;
Impurities;
OH MY!

It seems that this project has been derailed from the experimental physics portion… because of need of a dedicated Materials and Engineering fabrication department.

[vlad]

Joeviocoe wrote: Arcing;
Leaking;
Impurities;
OH MY!

It seems that this project has been derailed from the experimental physics portion… because of need of a dedicated Materials and Engineering fabrication department.

like any other experimental physics project 🙂

[benf]

The report show a much improved image of the spiraling filaments and plasmoid. Great also to have the readings on contaminates.

[Author]

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