[JShell]

Adam Bowman is a sophomore at Montgomery Bell Academy

https://www.montgomerybell.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=204&tn=Adam+Bowman+Wins+Science+Fair&nid=690442&ptid=3265&sdb=False&pf=nop&mode=0&vcm=False
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Adam Bowman Wins Science Fair

3/21/2011
Sophomore Adam Bowman participated in the Middle Tennessee Science and Engineering Fair over spring break at Austin Peay State University. His project, “The Construction of a Small Dense Plasma Focus Using a Novel Experimental Setup”, won one of two grand prizes at the fair, a first place award in the physics category, and seven other awards from various organizations. As a grand prize winner, Bowman will be able to advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) this May in Los Angeles. This fair includes over 1600 students from approximately 60 countries. Bowman participated in the ISEF last year as well, winning fourth place in the physics category and a first place award from the American Vacuum Society.

Bowman’s project involved the construction of a small dense plasma focus using simplistic components and systems. He was able to perform preliminary tests establishing the device’s potential utility as an X-ray source and nuclear fusion research tool. In addition, the plasma focus has many potential applications in the microfabrication and materials industries, including X-ray lithography, thin film deposition, and etching. Bowman plans to continue his research with the apparatus this summer, focusing on the device’s nuclear applications as an X-ray source and as an effective fusion-based neutron source.
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My recommendation if you want to find him is to email the chair of the Science Dept. at Montgomery Bell Academy. Perhaps he could do a summer internship with LPP or take a gap year to work with LPP before college. Or, we could communicate with him via email.

http://www.montgomerybell.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=126764

[JShell]

I like the idea of having a form letter that volunteers can send to journalists, editors, publicists, professors, their friends, anyone– I feel like the more we can get our name out there, the better–

I think its interesting that FFS has a much more public/cooperative approach than almost any other fusion organization . . .

[JShell]

i agree that a strategic partner with deep pockets would be a great person to have, but finding those individuals is not always easy . . .

[JShell]

Unfortunately I just realized that the conference has already passed . . . my apologies.

[JShell]

I think we need more fusion symbols, like the arms raised on the inverted peace symbol, as part of a fusion victory over coal and fossil fuels. . . but symbols for fusion vs. fossil fuels could be a good entree into a conversation about focus fusion, for those who ask.

governments and companies use symbols all the time . . . maybe FFS should start using symbols as part of our resistance movement?

[JShell]

MTd2 wrote: I wish I could put my tone in a more collaborative way… In fact, I feel pretty much handcuffed given that the much material available to understand how LPPX aims to achieve their objectives is not written down anywhere or is not available outside the lab`s oral tradition (this is quite normal in any research group).

For example, before downloading Lee`s simulator and asking here a lot of questions, I just thought that just the discharge of a lot of energy with a great voltage would create a lot of current, that is, 2.8MA. But this is not what is required. What is needed is a pressure of 200Torr and such pressure was never achieved by any Dense Focus Fusion device. This is an order of magnitude higher than what is usually assumed as the highest pressure that allows the formation of the pinch.

So, LPPX is different not only because of the axial field, but mainly because of the extremely high pressure of the fuel gas.

So, I`d like to know why is so dangerous to increase the pressure fast?

Well, it seems like if increasing the pressure has never been done before, it might be nice to get some stats on whats happening to the pinch as the pressure is increased . . . so if any corrections or adjustments are needed, they can know what might help in the high pressure environment.

If you have ideas about how the process could go faster, suggest them! I don’t know lots of whats going on but I feel comfortable getting a sense of it as the research proceeds. I don’t think I have enough information to know what goes into the strategic kind of research questions.

[JShell]

DerekShannon wrote: Viridian (and you through them) is buying a Renewable Energy Certificate on top of the base electricity price–That’s what makes it officially “renewable.”

RECs probably work fine, although its a little tough to tell that the credits are definitely having an impact . . . “additionality” is the issue i believe.

still, i’d do it.

[JShell]

Viridian offers 10.9 cents a KWH in NJ . . . my current rate for renewables in NY is 12.3 cents per KWH . . . which is a little more than the ~7 or 8 cents a KWH for nonrenewable energy.

[JShell]

I would do this, if they offered it in NY (its not there yet). this could be a cool way for FFS to invest in getting some publicity and support.

does that mean that FFS would get $24 a year from having my meter signed up? thats more than FFS dues!

i’m assuming this is legit, btw . . .

[JShell]

Aeronaut wrote:
What this boils down to imo is that their motivations are to protect a wide range of existing cash cows and jobs in the status quo. Think how many smart grid, clean coal, and other research boondoggles will go down the drain (along with the stock prices and carefully cultivated leadership images) if a straight-forward solution, with a definite time frame and budget, should come along.

I can advertise to smart phones around the world for a penny per click. Targeting can be as specific as the handset’s make, operating system, readers’ age group and general interest such as sports or business. Thus we can reach a lot of the world’s early adopters. I’m leaning toward using farce as the vehicle to make the message and branding instantly memorable, but that’s just my opinion. Who knows- maybe there’s a rea$on the TV stations always run hand-wringing ‘news’ stories.

I agree with all of this, and I like Rez’s idea about keeping people’s fears of being labelled a “boondoggle” in mind as we push for win/win solutions.

i like jokes/farce combined with online marketing as a way to support pro-fusion lobbying or demonstrations. . . i also like piggybacking off of larger fossil fuel ad campaigns (including “Let’s Go” and chevron’s recent rebranding attempt). but i think if we really want to get lots of people on board, we have to be thoughtful and targeted, and we have to give them more centralized ways of participating and supporting fusion . . . via letter-writing or something else.

imo if we could create a video telling the “story” behind all of this fusion drama, then maybe people could get their minds around why we are where we are when it comes to fusion. a youtube video could go a long way, or doing a full-length indie documentary could help get the word out. this could make for some high drama! and it could be done while correcting everyone’s assumptions about fusion . .. ie that its hundreds of years off, it could lead to more nuclear waste, it could be used for worse weapons, etc.

maybe if we start making noise politically then folks might start to take fusion’s potential more seriously?

[JShell]

“ReNeW docs” sounds like a good idea . . . consensus-building and cooperation is usually a great way to go. I think the key is, FFS may not be big enough right now to have an impact on overall clean energy R and D funding climate . . . but if we publicize the plight of non-tokamak and non-lasers researchers (ie that they are being starved of funding), then perhaps we could get some higher-ups to apply some pressure to get Ed Synakowski to change his fusion research funding allocation choices.

I don’t think Ed Synakowski is simply going to change his mind because people ask him to. I think he’s pretty convinced that the Tokamak is the best/only way forward. I disagree with his perspective on reality, but I think it might be easier to convince someone above Ed that Ed may not actually be implementing the best plan for America’s future . . . and that alternative fusion researchers should be getting funding too.

That is the quickest way to getting LPP public money that I can see . . .which I guess is part of why I’m more eager for a letter-writing campaign or something else more proactive.

[JShell]

But even if clean energy R and D did get a boost, it isn’t necessarily that FF would get any of that money, if Ed Synakowski simply gave more $$ to the ITER/Tokamak project . . .isn’t Stephen Chu still sitting on some millions from the stimulus that he hasn’t spent yet?

What if we just did a letter-writing campaign for Chu (or someone else) to allocate some extra millions that would go to *alternative* fusion research, outside of the current tokamak and lasers funding already being conducted?

[JShell]

Here’s the link:

R20 CA proposal

[JShell]

Rezwan wrote:

Father and son looking over the land, immigrants in the distance: “Some day, son, all this will be theirs.” (Seen first in a cartoon w/ Native folk looking out over pristine lands, Euro settlers in the distance).

yep. sad and true. america as the “chosen nation” is a handy myth to cover over the native american genocide that happened as settlers came with diseases and guns.

its even more upsetting to realize that america continues to commit a number of unacknowledged crimes against First Nations peoples, who are almost never given a voice on the national stage. For example, mining uranium in the 70’s and 80’s was seen as an issue of national security for the nuclear arms race, so it was done without the consent of those who were living on or near potential mine sites. Thus, the US managed to pollute air and water near a number of southwestern mine sites. Many of the rivers and groundwater sources were never cleaned up, and are still contaminated. Black Water Mesa Coalition is one group opposed to water contamination by a coal mine that is “slurrying” its coal and using a ton of water in the process. But, without substantial funds for expensive lawyers, indigenous voices often get ignored. Besides, its cheaper to slurry coal than to put the dry stuff on a train.

I hope this expresses some of my anger at King Coal, and my desire for FF as a way to replace it. Many folks in W Virginia are afraid to even look at the possibility of water contamination, because it means that their coal mining jobs would be at risk.

Also, if a politician formally apologized for genocide might mean that people start to expect some sort of restitution. Obama at least settled a number of native american cases that Bush would rather have dismissed without trial.

[JShell]

Using NH3 sounds like a great idea, especially if the energy density is enough for cars and trucks to maintain something close to their current range . . .with FF, it could make for some inspiring goals!

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