What are the choices for material to make FoFu's rods ?

[MTd2]

Is the best really Tungsten? It seems to be the least resistive element which is not diamagnetic nor ferromagnetic. But, what about composite materials?

[zapkitty]

MTd2 wrote: Is the best really Tungsten? It seems to be the least resistive element which is not diamagnetic nor ferromagnetic. But, what about composite materials?

Tungsten? The governing factor for the electrode material is x-ray heating… and tungsten is used to produce x-rays.

That leaves beryllium, which is pretty transparent to x-rays, as the metal of choice.

[Lerner]

Tungsten is used for the trigger electrodes in the switches. (More coming about swtiches soon.) The DPF electrodes are currently made of copper. In a generator they would probably be beryllium.

[MTd2]

So, there is an upgrade going on FoFu-1, according to LPPX’s twitter, to upgrade from copper to tungsten. So, I am confused now. What is the reason to choose Tungsten?

[zapkitty]

MTd2 wrote: So, there is an upgrade going on FoFu-1, according to LPPX’s twitter, to upgrade from copper to tungsten. So, I am confused now. What is the reason to choose Tungsten?

If you mean…

http://twitter.com/LPPX/status/18373950400630784

… perhaps the “rods” mentioned are the trigger electrodes in the switches that Lerner-hakase referred to? Not an upgrade to the FF core but rather rebuilds of the existing switches?

Interpreting brief on-the-fly technical tweets can be tricky but I’ve gotten the vague impression that they’ve been having to repair and/or upgrade the new switches a bit as they up the power in the test unit… this is only a supposition on my part but if it is so then I wouldn’t find it surprising.

[MTd2]

But the only advantage of using Tungsten at this time is to avoid eddy currents. That is, copper is a diamagnetic material, so it tends to oppose magnetic field, so they may change the theoretical expectations of the model and also dissipates power due these eddy currents:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_currents

Other than that, I cannot think of another reason since tungsten is more resistive than copper.

Any other idea?

[zapkitty]

MTd2 wrote: But the only advantage of using Tungsten at this time is to avoid eddy currents.
…
Other than that, I cannot think of another reason since tungsten is more resistive than copper.

Any other idea?

?
If we are talking about the “rods” being part of the triggers in the switches then the primary conductor would be the ionozed gas in the switches.

FYI the triggers are tiny switches within the switches.

The triggers would not need extreme conductivity in and of themselves… just enough to carry a spark to trigger the breakdown of the gas.

The two physical properties of tungsten that immediately come to mind that would apply in this case would be strength and resistance to heat.

[MTd2]

I thought these were the rods:

https://focusfusion.org/index.php/gallery/image_med/72/

I mean, these do look like copper rods!

[zapkitty]

MTd2 wrote: I thought these were the rods:

https://focusfusion.org/index.php/gallery/image_med/72/

I mean, these do look like copper rods!

The tweet just said tungsten rods.

We know direct from the source that the trigger electrodes in the switches have been changed to tungsten.

It would seem that the trigger electrodes in the switches are rodlike as well.

[AaronB]

The switch electrodes are made with small tungsten rods and are sort of like sparkplugs, and once a pulse is triggered in the switches, the current flows from the capacitors, across the plate, and down to the copper electrodes in the reaction chamber. The electrodes in the switches and in the reaction chamber are both rodlike, but are made of different material and have different sizes.

[Brian H]

AaronB wrote: The switch electrodes are made with small tungsten rods and are sort of like sparkplugs, and once a pulse is triggered in the switches, the current flows from the capacitors, across the plate, and down to the copper electrodes in the reaction chamber. The electrodes in the switches and in the reaction chamber are both rodlike, but are made of different material and have different sizes.

There you are! Any news on the news update? This year? 😉 :cheese:

[MTd2]

Well, if you are not a member of Focusfusion society or an investor, unfortunately there is no chance for you to get an update this year. I am a member and I still did not get mine and there is a delay of a few until LPPX puts it on the website.

BTW. Being a member of focusfusion should grant me a copy of Big Bang Never Happened signed by Lerner. Was it sent to me?

[Breakable]

MTd2 wrote: …
BTW. Being a member of focusfusion should grant me a copy of Big Bang Never Happened signed by Lerner. Was it sent to me?

Hey i want mine too 😉
Where did you read it?

[MTd2]

Here:

“All donations at the level of family membership or higher will receive, in addition to Fusion Focus, an autographed copy of the book “The Big Bang Never Happened” by Eric Lerner.”

Damn it, I didn’t notice that the donation should be $100 or more.

[Author]

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