Controlled Nuclear Fusion
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Can 250+ Fusions Per Muon Be Achieved?
CAN 250+ FUSIONS PER MUON BE ACHIEVED? CONF-870448—1 Steven E. Jones DE87 010472 Brigham Young University Dept. of Physics and Astronomy Provo, UT 84602 U.S.A. INTRODUCTION Nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes can be induced by negative muons (u) in reactions such as: y- + d + t + o + n -s- u- (1) t J N This reaction is analagous to the nuclear fusion reaction achieved in stars in which hydrogen isotopes (such as deuterium, d, and tritium, t) at very high temperatures first penetrate the Coulomb repulsive barrier and then fuse together to produce an alpha particle (a) and a neutron (n), releasing energy which reaches the earth as light and heat. Life in the universe depends on fusion energy. In the case of reaction (1), the muon in general reappears after inducing fusion so that the reaction can be repeated many (N) times. Thus, the muon may serve as an effective catalyst for nuclear fusion. Muon- catalyzed fusion is unique in that it proceeds rapidly in deuterium-tritium mixtures at relatively cold temperatures, e.g. room temperature. The need for plasma temperatures to initiate fusion is overcome by the presence of the nuon. In analogy to an ordinary hydrogen molecule, the nuon binds together the deuteron and triton in a very small molecule. Since the muonic mass is so large, the dtp molecule is tiny, so small that the deuteron and triton are induced to fuse together in about a picosecond - one millionth of the nuon lifetime. We could speak here of nuonlc confinement, in lieu of the gravitational confinement found in stars, or MASTER DISTRIBUTION OF THIS BBCUMENT IS UNLIMITED magnetic or inertial confinement of hot plasmas favored in earth-bound attempts at imitating stellar fusion. -
NEWSLETTER Issue No. 7 September 2017
NEWSLETTER September 2017 Issue no. 7 Nuclear Industry Group Newsletter September 2017 Contents Notes from the Chair ................................................................................... 3 IOP Group Officers Forum .......................................................................... 4 NIG Committee Elections ............................................................................ 6 Nuclear Industry Group Career Contribution Prize 2017 .......................... 7 Event – Gen IV Reactors by Richard Stainsby (NNL) ................................ 8 Event – Nuclear Security by Robert Rodger (NNL) and Graham Urwin (RWM) ......................................................................................................... 12 Event – The UK’s Nuclear Future by Dame Sue Ion ................................ 13 Event – Regulatory Challenges for Nuclear New Build by Mike Finnerty. .................................................................................................................... 15 Event – European Nuclear Young Generation Forum ............................. 18 Event – Nuclear Fusion, 60 Years on from ZETA by Chris Warrick (UKAEA), Kate Lancaster (York Plasma Institute), David Kingham (Tokamak Energy) and Ian Chapman (UKAEA) ....................................... 19 IOP Materials and Characterisation Group Meetings .............................. 25 “Brexatom” – the implications of the withdrawal for the UK from the Euratom Treaty. ........................................................................................ -
Thermonuclear AB-Reactors for Aerospace
1 Article Micro Thermonuclear Reactor after Ct 9 18 06 AIAA-2006-8104 Micro -Thermonuclear AB-Reactors for Aerospace* Alexander Bolonkin C&R, 1310 Avenue R, #F-6, Brooklyn, NY 11229, USA T/F 718-339-4563, [email protected], [email protected], http://Bolonkin.narod.ru Abstract About fifty years ago, scientists conducted R&D of a thermonuclear reactor that promises a true revolution in the energy industry and, especially, in aerospace. Using such a reactor, aircraft could undertake flights of very long distance and for extended periods and that, of course, decreases a significant cost of aerial transportation, allowing the saving of ever-more expensive imported oil-based fuels. (As of mid-2006, the USA’s DoD has a program to make aircraft fuel from domestic natural gas sources.) The temperature and pressure required for any particular fuel to fuse is known as the Lawson criterion L. Lawson criterion relates to plasma production temperature, plasma density and time. The thermonuclear reaction is realised when L > 1014. There are two main methods of nuclear fusion: inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and magnetic confinement fusion (MCF). Existing thermonuclear reactors are very complex, expensive, large, and heavy. They cannot achieve the Lawson criterion. The author offers several innovations that he first suggested publicly early in 1983 for the AB multi- reflex engine, space propulsion, getting energy from plasma, etc. (see: A. Bolonkin, Non-Rocket Space Launch and Flight, Elsevier, London, 2006, Chapters 12, 3A). It is the micro-thermonuclear AB- Reactors. That is new micro-thermonuclear reactor with very small fuel pellet that uses plasma confinement generated by multi-reflection of laser beam or its own magnetic field. -
The Economist's Free E-Mail Newsletters Twist and Shout and Alerts
Log in Register My account Subscribe Digital & mobile Newsletters RSS Jobs Help Thursday September 1st 2011 Search World politics Business & finance Economics Science & technology Culture Blogs Debate & discuss Multimedia Print edition Fusion power Be the first to comment Print Next ITERation? E-mail Reprints & permissions Generating electricity by nuclear fusion has long looked like a chimera. A reactor being built in Germany may change that Advertisement Sep 3rd 2011 | from the print edition Like 3 7 Most commented Most recommended 1. China's military power: Modernisation in sheep's clothing 2. Charlemagne: Among the dinosaurs 3. Anti-corruption protests in India: No modern-day AS THE old joke has it, fusion is the power of the future—and always will be. The sales Mahatma pitch is irresistible: the principal fuel, a heavy isotope of hydrogen called deuterium, 4. German business and politics: Goodbye to Berlin can be extracted from water. In effect, therefore, it is in limitless supply. Nor, unlike 5. Libya: The birth of free Libya fusion’s cousin, nuclear fission, does the process produce much in the way of 6. Immigration: Let them come radioactive waste. It does not release carbon dioxide, either. Which all sounds too good 7. Climate science (II): Clouds in a jar to be true. And it is. For there is the little matter of building a reactor that can run for 8. Language learning: No, she's foreign! long enough to turn out a meaningful amount of electricity. Since the first attempt to do 9. Martin Luther King: A blockheaded memorial so, a machine called Zeta that was constructed in Britain in the 1950s, no one has even 10. -
The Stellarator Program J. L, Johnson, Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
The Stellarator Program J. L, Johnson, Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A. (On loan from Westlnghouse Research and Development Center) G. Grieger, Max Planck Institut fur Plasmaphyslk, Garching bel Mun<:hen, West Germany D. J. Lees, U.K.A.E.A. Culham Laboratory, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England M. S. Rablnovich, P. N. Lebedev Physics Institute, U.S.3.R. Academy of Sciences, Moscow, U.S.S.R. J. L. Shohet, Torsatron-Stellarator Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A. and X. Uo, Plasma Physics Laboratory Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uj', Japan Abstract The woHlwide development of stellnrator research is reviewed briefly and informally. I OISCLAIWCH _— . vi'Tli^liW r.'r -?- A stellarator is a closed steady-state toroidal device for cer.flning a hot plasma In a magnetic field where the rotational transform Is produced externally, from torsion or colls outside the plasma. This concept was one of the first approaches proposed for obtaining a controlled thsrtnonuclear device. It was suggested and developed at Princeton in the 1950*s. Worldwide efforts were undertaken in the 1960's. The United States stellarator commitment became very small In the 19/0's, but recent progress, especially at Carchlng ;ind Kyoto, loeethar with «ome new insights for attacking hotii theoretics] Issues and engineering concerns have led to a renewed optimism and interest a:; we enter the lQRO's. The stellarator concept was borr In 1951. Legend has it that Lyman Spiczer, Professor of Astronomy at Princeton, read reports of a successful demonstration of controlled thermonuclear fusion by R. -
1 Looking Back at Half a Century of Fusion Research Association Euratom-CEA, Centre De
Looking Back at Half a Century of Fusion Research P. STOTT Association Euratom-CEA, Centre de Cadarache, 13108 Saint Paul lez Durance, France. This article gives a short overview of the origins of nuclear fusion and of its development as a potential source of terrestrial energy. 1 Introduction A hundred years ago, at the dawn of the twentieth century, physicists did not understand the source of the Sun‘s energy. Although classical physics had made major advances during the nineteenth century and many people thought that there was little of the physical sciences left to be discovered, they could not explain how the Sun could continue to radiate energy, apparently indefinitely. The law of energy conservation required that there must be an internal energy source equal to that radiated from the Sun‘s surface but the only substantial sources of energy known at that time were wood or coal. The mass of the Sun and the rate at which it radiated energy were known and it was easy to show that if the Sun had started off as a solid lump of coal it would have burnt out in a few thousand years. It was clear that this was much too shortœœthe Sun had to be older than the Earth and, although there was much controversy about the age of the Earth, it was clear that it had to be older than a few thousand years. The realization that the source of energy in the Sun and stars is due to nuclear fusion followed three main steps in the development of science. -
Eindhoven University of Technology BACHELOR the Effect of The
Eindhoven University of Technology BACHELOR The effect of the cathode radius on the neutron production in an IEC fusion device Wijnen, M. Award date: 2014 Link to publication Disclaimer This document contains a student thesis (bachelor's or master's), as authored by a student at Eindhoven University of Technology. Student theses are made available in the TU/e repository upon obtaining the required degree. The grade received is not published on the document as presented in the repository. The required complexity or quality of research of student theses may vary by program, and the required minimum study period may vary in duration. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain Bachelor Thesis The effect of the cathode radius on the neutron production in an IEC fusion device M.Wijnen Eindhoven University of Technology June 2014 Abstract While magnetic confinement fusion is reaching the next level with the develop- ment of ITER, many other methods to achieve fusion are studied in parallel. One of these methods is inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) which utilizes electrostatic fields to create fusion. The Eindhoven University of Technology operates the TU/e Fusor, modelled after a Hirsch-Farnsworth fusor. -
Years of Fusion Research
“50” Years of Fusion Research Dale Meade Fusion Innovation Research and Energy® Princeton, NJ Independent Activities Period (IAP) January 19, 2011 MIT PSFC Cambridge, MA 02139 1 FiFusion Fi FiPre Powers th thSe Sun “We nee d to see if we can mak e f usi on work .” John Holdren @MIT, April, 2009 3 Toroidal Magg(netic Confinement (1940s-earlyy) 50s) • 1940s - first ideas on using a magnetic field to confine a hot plasma for fusion. • 1947 Sir G.P. Thomson and P. C. Thonemann began classified investigations of toroidal “pinch” RF discharge, eventually lead to ZETA, a large pinch at Harwell, England 1956. • 1949 Richter in Argentina issues Press Release proclaiming fusion, turns out to be bogus, but news piques Spitzer’s interest. • 1950 Spitzer conceives stellarator while on a ski lift, and makes ppproposal to AEC ($50k )-initiates Project Matterhorn at Princeton. • 1950s Classified US Program on Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion (Project Sherwood) carried out until 1958 when magnetic fusion research was declassified. US and others unveil results at 2nd UN Atoms for Peace Conference in Geneva 1958. Fusion Leading to 1958 Geneva Meeting • A period of rapid progress in science and technology – N-weapons, N-submarine, Fission energy, Sputnik, transistor, .... • Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion had great potential – Much optimism in the early 1950s with expectation for a quick solution – Political support and pressure for quick results (but bud gets were low, $56M for 1951-1958) – Many very “innovative” approaches were put forward. – Early fusion reactor concepts - Tamm/Sakharov, Spitzer (Model D) very large. • Reality began to set in by the mid 1950s – Coll ectiv e eff ects - MHD instability ( 195 4), Bo hm d iffus io n was ubi qui tous – Meager plasma physics understanding led to trial and error approaches – A multitude of experiments were tried and ended up far from fusion conditions – Magnetic Fusion research in the U.S. -
ITER Session at the IAEA Fusion Energy Conferencexa304 3
ITER activities in 2003 is expected to be on the same level as in previous years, It was reported that the mandate of the Russian delegation to participate in the Negotiations in 2003 is expected to be approved soon by the Government. The RF delegation also reported that they had received informal enquiries from the Republic of Korea about possible participation in ITER. Dr. S. Matsuda, Moderator of the Fifth Meeting of the Negotiations Standing Sub-Group (NSSG-5, held in Rokkasho-mura on 7-9 October 2002) introduced the progress report of the NSSG. The delegations noted the progress report from the NSSG on the Joint Assessment of Specific Sites (JASS). The joint assessment of the Japanese site at Rokkasho-mura was conducted on 2-5 October 2002. This followed the assessment in September of the proposed Canadian site at Clarington. With the successful conduct of these two assessments, the JASS process is at the halfway mark. The last two site assessments will be carried out i] December at the two sites proposed by the European Union one at Cadar-ache in France and the other at Vandellos in Spain. It was agreed that the final report of the JASS would be presented at the Eighth Negotiations Meeting (N8), Significant progress was also made on a wide range of other issues, including matters such as the treaty to implement ITER (the Joint Implementation Agreement - JIA), procurement allocation and the intellectual property rights thait would accrue to participants in the project. The Negotiators agreed that the international organization responsible for implementing the project would be called the ITE-R International Fusion Energy Organization. -
Sixty Years on from ZETA …
Sixty years on from ZETA … Chris Warrick The Sun … What is powering it? Coal? Lifetime 3,000 years Gravitational Energy? Lifetime 30 million years – Herman Von Helmholtz, Lord Kelvin - mid 1800s The Sun … Suggested the Earth is at least 300 million years old – confirmed by geologists studying rock formations … The Sun … Albert Einstein (Theory of Special Relativity) and Becquerel / Curie’s work on radioactivity – suggested radioactive decay may be the answer … But the Sun comprises hydrogen … The Sun … Arthur Eddington proposed that fusion of hydrogen to make helium must be powering the Sun “If, indeed, the subatomic energy is being freely used to maintain their great furnaces, it seems to bring a little nearer to fulfilment our dream of controlling this latent power for the well-being of the human race – or for its suicide” Cambridge – 1930s Cockcroft Walton accelerator, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge. But huge energy losses and low collisionality Ernest Rutherford : “The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing . Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine.” Oxford – 1940s Peter Thonemann – Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford. ‘Pinch’ experiment in glass, then copper tori. First real experiments in sustaining plasma and magnetically controlling them. Imperial College – 1940s George Thomson / Alan Ware – Imperial College London then Aldermaston. Also pinch experiments, but instabilities started to be observed – especially the rapidly growing kink instability. AERE Harwell Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) Harwell – Hangar 7 picked up fusion research. Fusion is now classified. Kurchatov visit 1956 ZETA ZETA Zero Energy Thermonuclear Apparatus Pinch experiment – but with added toroidal field to help with instabilities and pulsed DC power supplies. -
Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Research During Half a Century Bo Lehnert
SE0100262 TRITA-A Report ISSN 1102-2051 VETENSKAP OCH ISRN KTH/ALF/--01/4--SE IONST KTH Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Research During Half a Century Bo Lehnert Research and Training programme on CONTROLLED THERMONUCLEAR FUSION AND PLASMA PHYSICS (Association EURATOM/NFR) FUSION PLASMA PHYSICS ALFV N LABORATORY ROYAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SE-100 44 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ALL OF THE MISSING PAGES IN THIS DOCUMENT WERE ORIGINALLY BLANK TRITA-ALF-2001-04 ISRN KTH/ALF/--01/4--SE Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Research During Half a Century Bo Lehnert VETENSKAP OCH KONST Stockholm, June 2001 The Alfven Laboratory Division of Fusion Plasma Physics Royal Institute of Technology SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden (Association EURATOM/NFR) Printed by Alfven Laboratory Fusion Plasma Physics Division Royal Institute of Technology SE-100 44 Stockholm PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION RESEARCH DURING HALF A CENTURY Bo Lehnert Alfven Laboratory, Royal Institute of Technology S-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden ABSTRACT A review is given on the historical development of research on plasma physics and controlled fusion. The potentialities are outlined for fusion of light atomic nuclei, with respect to the available energy resources and the environmental properties. Various approaches in the research on controlled fusion are further described, as well as the present state of investigation and future perspectives, being based on the use of a hot plasma in a fusion reactor. Special reference is given to the part of this work which has been conducted in Sweden, merely to identify its place within the general historical development. Considerable progress has been made in fusion research during the last decades. -
Fusion – a Viable Energy Source – Questionable? 1.1 Plasma Physics and Associated Fusion Research
Dr. David R. Thayer Talk given at the: Sigma Pi Sigma Induction Ceremony UW Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, 4/28/14 Fusion – A Viable Energy Source – Questionable? 1.1 Plasma Physics and Associated Fusion Research Began Around 1950 (in Russia) To Produce energy from Thermonuclear Fusion (Which Powers Stars). The Key Nuclear Reaction at the heart of fusion physics as the Fusion Of Deuterium (D) and Tritium (T) Ions, D+T 4 He 3.5MeV +n 14.1MeV , D-T - Liberates 17.6MeV Of Energy in Alpha Particle (Helium Nucleus, 4 He) and High Energy Neutron (n). D T n 1 1.2 Typical Conditions which produce fusion reaction Incorporate Plasma (High Temperature Gas of Electrons & Ions) Nuclear Ingredients at conditions: Density of n 1020 m 3, Temperature of T 10keV Objective: Overcome D-T Electrostatic Repulsion: D T Ignition (fusion sustained) Metric-Lawson Criteria: Density (ne )*Energy Confinement Time ( E ) = ne E Lawson Criteria 20 3 nme 10 E 1s 20 3 ne E 10 m s For D-T Fusion Te 10 keV or Approx. 100M degree C 2 1.3 Fusion Reactions Occur Naturally In Stars, due to tremendous Gravitation Forces, Fg m , which Radially Confine Plasma - Allow Sustained Fusion. However, Laboratory Fusion Plasmas must utilize Electromagnetic Forces, Fq E v B, typically Achieved Using: 1) Toroidal Magnetic Field Devices – Tokamak – Large Confining B Fields; or 2) Inertial Confinement Fusion – ICF – Devices numerous large Lasers Provide Implosion Pressure. 1) ITER – International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor 2) NIF – National Ignition Facility Lasers Hohlraum Contains