DOCSLIB.ORG

Omni Magazine with Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Omni Magazine with Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet SPACE LAWS OF THE . ROMAN EMPIRE ASIMOV'S NEUTRINO AND THE COLLAPSIBLE UNIVERSE THE RIGHT TO DIE PRIMAL GARDENS FROM GENETIC MEMORIES AND A NEW VIEW OF HUMAN SEXUAL COMPATIBILITY onnrui EDITOR & DESIGN DIRECTOR; BOB GUCCIONE PRESIDENT: KATHY KEETON EXECUTIVE EDITOR: BEN BOVA ART DIRECTOR: FRANK DEVINO MANAGING EDITOR: J. ANDERSON DORMAN FICTION EDITOR: ROBERT SHECKLEY EUROPEAN EDITOR: DR. BERNARD DIXON iTSON DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: BEVERLEY WARDALE PAGE FIRST WORD Opinion John G. Driscoll, C.FC. 6 OMNIBUS Contributors 8 COMMUNICATIONS Correspondence 10 FORUM Dialogue 14 EARTH Environment Don Wall 16 LIFE Biomedicine Bernard Dixon 18 SPACE Comment Charles Kohlhase 20 MIND Behavior Chris Tucker 22 FILM The Arts Jeff Rovin 24 TELEVISION The Arls 32 CONTINUUM Data Bank 35 THE RIGHT TO DIE Article Roger M. Williams 44 SPACE LAWS Profile Ron Bitto 48 VOYAGERS Hction Ben Bova 52 PRIMAL GARDENS Pictorial Robert Sheckley 56 THE MICROBOTIC REVOLUTION Fiction Ian Stewart 62 PROJECT TESLA Article 68 HELEN SINGER KAPLAN Interview Diane Klein 72 NEUTRINO AND UNIVERSE Article Isaac Asimov 78 TAILORED FOR ZERO-G Pictorial Anthony Wolff -84 I.O. TEST ANSWERS Results Scot Morris 88 INNOVATIONS New Products Geoffrey Golson 102 UHbLHIB " EXPLORATIONS- Travel Kathleen McAuliffe 118 STARS Astronomy Allan Hendry 124 DIGITIZED EINSTEIN Phenomena Herbert W Franke 126 GAMES Diversions Scot Morris 128 LAST WORD Humor Stephen Robinett 130 John Holmes, a sell-taught artist, yiignr ® IBB1 by Omni Pubin sihi~ creator of this month's cover. Titled The Seer, the painting depicts man's ability to peek into an existential future. Holmes's paintings are in private collections throughout the world, and he is U.S.. AFO:S2.2SinCangd now working for clients in Europe, the United States, and Australia. 4 OMNI 1 President -Reagan'snow budge' programs individuals are woefully unprepared, miem nave an urisniocipated and unable lo.aot prudently, and effectively pernicious effect or; lbs future oi this unable to understand issues and options country his counselors believe /' He and - , inability to act generally . spawns.a thai the revftalization •' 1 ol our industrial and . paralyzing fear so that ignorance of ;/ I science, technology, and LP mm. „J sophisticated economy It is worrisome and puzzling thai techniques oi problem-solving osiers this same pro-industrial strategy calls for suspicion and distrust of our scientists'' tht 71s and technologists' motivations. Wears in designed to train citaeris with scientific dancer of the public's perceiving these and engineering talent, i refer specifically V experts as Dp Strange loves, intent on .,..;• t^E^"^^^"^^ or. ^A V decision re manipulation for purposes not congruent rococo drastically the activities ot the With democrat!!., goals and ooieclivss. NarjonalScianoe Foundation jnadeoj iti edo lii. :oe cos B^^^B^^^^^^^^^^^ This cute pose a direct ihrea! to the democratic." science educanoii. a gnevous. concern system. The right oi ''V'."^^^^. 1 the people to govern _.._.;• . ^^k sir obal society in themseives is founded on ;he conviction which';! is increasingly iniporlsn; tnateacn efeen ^^^^^^1 ^L^m\ c. '.-. .'i.o 'V'-' -*",-'• ly, and politically for 99 hR i that J citizens to have an ^H ^B understanding of afieo; his lire, today many of -ne policies «^^^^^^^^^^^ science and technology. It is akoadv set by ihe puPhc and private sectors are widely reported iha- the level of ice'Cc n ihe areas of below r l the other lal rratons. individual has an adequate understandm FIRST For example, 85 perceni of Arr.enoar. h-gh school students discontinue men has ihe appropriate tools with which to siudies in science and mathematics aftei decide, he ;s incapable of exercising nis grace Ten. In contra;,:, two thirds or :r.c- rote in the democratic orocess. He must WORD lenfh -graders m the Soviet Union are instead resign himself to surrenoerirvg nis By John 0. Driscoll, C.FC. completing iwo years of caioulus Our responsibility lo a cernperal'vely sma;i technological society— which neeos the elite, a course of action basically iAnmdiyidual support of strong moral values a antithetical to :he American democratic disciplined educate its experience. ." ' '"-.' must have the tools to ;,/ j information base- can no? achieve rs Only through education can we hope to make decisions complex goals wi'o such an inadequate develop a citizenry that is prepared to before he can take preparation of :isci;izen& participate ac'r.e'y i: :"ne isoa; i admin ion's assault on the i hr: licglca so ici.\ rnohasison part in the programs of the National Science litetaey "numeracy " and appropriate democratic process.? Foundation further complicates a serious academic and persona: discipline must condition ihai already exists within oe mace a priori;* Additional curricula America. Wo are rapidly seeing ins d'owtn must be studied, much oi it with newer ' ., of'Lwosocia ola s. the sciei ;e i :: pedagogical techniques. Professional, and the sclemce-capabie: those woo have prepared teachers i oeen educated exclusively in the Tins is nappenlt-.q at some learning humanities, law, or business and those centers. At lona College, m New Roche-He : i. : who nave been frarv i m Now York, the faculty administration, and science ana rechnoiogy. The existence tr' authorities in science and technology hay* 1' I'. ' " . .,..:! two r ii, II. o.i,. in. been invoked en developing lecture and introduces considerable stress into our laboratory exoemsneos that would provide economic, poliitea: andethlca; e-^'y undergraduate with the opportuni- decision- makino processes. ties neeood ic as Ic'ross issues of beaim Presently we are witnessing a wonderful energy environment, information retrieval; reawakening of nuno-sity and interest in the oata and word processing, risk analysis'. sciences I'ho seoioess ol maoaxines such and bec.risiori mak:ny — : najor concerns as Omni and trio production oi numerous of today and tomorrow. so;ence and scionco-lrction boohs Appropriate change most be expected movies arid television programs and required of thai extraordinarily large demonstrate wiae support (or (he and fine network, the American sciences. While Some who read these educational system. Th;s change publications and enjoy these programs mandates iwo partners for ihe educations ' 1 .'. '.',!. i '!. : ii . : ,; community: a corpora;.;? secret lhal can most people do no: have Ihe background provide financial assistance to make to understand and Interpret technological educational changes feasible and a : information n a way that will ret them judge government sector that wiii respond with and adjust <? ' " >ed eotio.o i id nrocision when ine by rapid change. Without an appreciation dd <' >„..., ..,,:' ,.. ii.'.l.i'i. ..!. ,, DNTRIBUTOR DRJirUIBU! great fortunes of the next first 1 1 chapters of Genesis, and Asimov The will in century be made the on Science Fiction (Doubleday), a asteroid belt, and, by the year collection of essays on topics relevant Times Literary Supplement Stewart's 2020, a significant fraction of humanity's to science fiction, "Message from Earth" appeared in our gross world product will be derived from "Each of us worries to some degree February 1980 issue. space-based activities." claims Art Dula, about the circumstances of his or her own If the Donald Symons interview (March probably the first private attorney in death," says writer Roger M. Williams. "Will 1981) caused you to wonder about some America to devote his practice entirely to it be protracted and painful? Will those of the theories espoused by sex therapists aerospace and technical law. "Cosmic who want to die be prevented from doing in this country, read Diane Klein's interview Counselor," Ron Bitto's profile of the Texan so by doctors or well-meaning relatives with sex researcher Helen Singer Kaplan space lawyer, begins on page 48. who want to maintain life at any cost?" (page 72) for more mindblowing insights Bitto, while working full-time as the These are some of the weighty questions into that touchy issue. advertising manager for Eastman Williams asks in "This Way Out" (page 44). Klein, a free-lance writer for a variety of Whipstock; the., a directional oil-drilling Williams, formerly head of the Atlanta magazines, has written several articles on company in Houston, is a ghost writer for bureau for Time magazine, senior editor at sexuality for Modern Bride. She, unlike engineers in his free time, Possessing a Saturday Review, and staff writer for 'Sports those hapless mates discussed in her liberal arts background, Bitto has been Illustrated, has contributed to a variety of interview, has been happily married to successful in translating highly iechnical national publications, including the Dial, one man for 28 years. subjects into understandable copy, Many Signature, the Nation, and the Atlantic. He Are you a genius? Last month Omni oilfield trade publications have published is the author of Sing a Sad Song: The Life of published an l,Q, test prepared especially his articles. Hank Williams, recently reissued in hard- for the magazine by representatives of If the universe begins to collapse, what cover by the University of Illinois Press, Mensa, the high-I.Q. society, Beginning will happen? Will it end as a small, dense and The Bonds: An American Family on page 88, you will find the test answers, point? Or will it bounce and begin ex- (Atheneum), which traces the lives of along with an analysis of the results. panding again? The key to this mystery Julian Bond and his forebears. Through the ages, storytellers have may be the neutrino, a neutrally charged, The line from Arthur C. Clarke's book created many different names for Eden, massless particle capable of going Voices from the Sky, "The rash assertion the originally perfect paradise. "Green through more than 20 light-years of lead that 'God created man in His own image' is World." beginning on page 56, is a without being stopped.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Assessment of DEMO Reactors for Fusion Power Utilization
    九州大学学術情報リポジトリ Kyushu University Institutional Repository Assessment of DEMO Reactors for Fusion Power Utilization Elserafy, Hatem Interdisciplinary Graduate school of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University https://doi.org/10.5109/2174854 出版情報：Evergreen. 5 (4), pp.18-25, 2018-12. Green Asia Education Center バージョン：published 権利関係： EVERGREEN Joint Journal of Novel Carbon Resource Sciences & Green Asia Strategy, Vol. 05, Issue 04, pp.18-25, December 2018 (Review Article) Assessment of DEMO Reactors for Fusion Power Utilization Hatem Elserafy Interdisciplinary Graduate school of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed, E-mail: [email protected] (Received November 15, 2018; accepted December 27, 2018). Given the undeniable climate change caused by global warming, decreasing the carbon footprint by using alternative energy sources became necessary. Thermonuclear fusion energy is one of the strongest candidates when it comes to alternative energy sources since it is safe, has negligible carbon footprint and its yield is incomparable to any other alternative. Credential as fusion performance may be; feasibility and economic attractiveness are something to be considered. The next stage fusion reactors are called DEMOnstration (DEMO) and are being assessed by various sources in terms of performance. In this work, DEMO fusion reactors are to be reviewed and their specifications are to be analyzed in terms of feasibility, while demonstrating how the tritium fueling stage not only presents a challenge for calculating fusion power costs, but also that fusion energy requires further R&D before it can be integrated into the power grid. Keywords: thermonuclear fusion, DEMO, TBR. 1. Introduction thought of as the most promising unexploited energy source [6].
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Examining the Role of Nuclear Fusion in a Renewables-Based Energy Mix
    Re-examining the Role of Nuclear Fusion in a Renewables-Based Energy Mix T. E. G. Nicholasa,∗, T. P. Davisb, F. Federicia, J. E. Lelandc, B. S. Patela, C. Vincentd, S. H. Warda a York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK b Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PH c Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, UK d Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LS, UK Abstract Fusion energy is often regarded as a long-term solution to the world's energy needs. However, even after solving the critical research challenges, engineer- ing and materials science will still impose significant constraints on the char- acteristics of a fusion power plant. Meanwhile, the global energy grid must transition to low-carbon sources by 2050 to prevent the worst effects of climate change. We review three factors affecting fusion's future trajectory: (1) the sig- nificant drop in the price of renewable energy, (2) the intermittency of renewable sources and implications for future energy grids, and (3) the recent proposition of intermediate-level nuclear waste as a product of fusion. Within the scenario assumed by our premises, we find that while there remains a clear motivation to develop fusion power plants, this motivation is likely weakened by the time they become available. We also conclude that most current fusion reactor designs do not take these factors into account and, to increase market penetration, fu- sion research should consider relaxed nuclear waste design criteria, raw material availability constraints and load-following designs with pulsed operation.
    [Show full text]
  • Fast Track Concept in the European Fusion Programme
    JP0250524 JAERI-Conf 2002-010 IV. FAST TRACK CONCEPT IN THE EUROPEAN FUSION PROGRAMME Prof. Harald Bolt Director of Materials Research Division, Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics Abstract Recently an expert meeting regarding a possible acceleration of the fusion programme with a view to energy production ("fast track") was held on the initiative of the EU Research Council. In the course of the discussions about the fast track programme, it has turned out that successful extraction of reactor grade heat and tritium from the blanket modules is essential in the ITER operation. In parallel with ITER, material development using a high intensity neutron source is essential to establish a database for licensing. The operation of a reactor combining DEMO and PROTO generations into a single step could be around 2030. 1. Introduction A reference roadmap has been discussed which leads from ITER to DEMO and PROTO fusion reactors in EU. Among these discussions, the significant role of fusion reactors as electrical power resources and their timely availability to society has been emphasized. From this view point, it has been proposed to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy within 20-30 years, the so called "fast track" programme. This means that demonstration of fusion energy will be in 2030, not in 2050 which was a conventional fusion program so fat. In the line with this scope, the Fast Track Working Group was rganized by the EU Research Council in November 2001, and reported the first assessment of the fast track schedule. In this paper, the main results of the working group are described as well as the materials development program which has to be carried out acc ordingly.
    [Show full text]
  • A European Success Story the Joint European Torus
    EFDA JET JETJETJET LEAD ING DEVICE FOR FUSION STUDIES HOLDER OF THE WORLD RECORD OF FUSION POWER PRODUCTION EXPERIMENTS STRONGLY FOCUSSED ON THE PREPARATION FOR ITER EXPERIMENTAL DEVICE USED UNDER THE EUROPEAN FUSION DEVELOPEMENT AGREEMENT THE JOINT EUROPEAN TORUS A EUROPEAN SUCCESS STORY EFDA Fusion: the Energy of the Sun If the temperature of a gas is raised above 10,000 °C virtually all of the atoms become ionised and electrons separate from their nuclei. The result is a complete mix of electrons and ions with the sum of all charges being very close to zero as only small charge imbalance is allowed. Thus, the ionised gas remains almost neutral throughout. This constitutes a fourth state of matter called plasma, with a wide range of unique features. D Deuterium 3He Helium 3 The sun, and similar stars, are sphe- Fusion D T Tritium res of plasma composed mainly of Li Lithium hydrogen. The high temperature, 4He Helium 4 3He Energy U Uranium around 15 million °C, is necessary released for the pressure of the plasma to in Fusion T balance the inward gravitational for- ces. Under these conditions it is pos- Li Fission sible for hydrogen nuclei to fuse together and release energy. Nuclear binding energy In a terrestrial system the aim is to 4He U produce the ‘easiest’ fusion reaction Energy released using deuterium and tritium. Even in fission then the rate of fusion reactions becomes large enough only at high JG97.362/4c Atomic mass particle energy. Therefore, when the Dn required nuclear reactions result from the thermal motions of the nuclei, so-called thermonuclear fusion, it is necessary to achieve u • extremely high temperatures, of at least 100 million °C.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Control of Complementary-Slackness Juggling Mechanical Systems Bernard Brogliato, Arturo Zavala Rio
    On the control of complementary-slackness juggling mechanical systems Bernard Brogliato, Arturo Zavala Rio To cite this version: Bernard Brogliato, Arturo Zavala Rio. On the control of complementary-slackness juggling mechanical systems. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2000, 45 (2), pp.235-246. 10.1109/9.839946. hal-02303804 HAL Id: hal-02303804 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02303804 Submitted on 2 Oct 2019 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. On the Control of Complementary-Slackness Juggling Mechanical Systems Bernard Brogliato and Arturo Zavala Río Abstract—This paper studies the feedback control of a class (2) of complementary-slackness hybrid mechanical systems. Roughly, (3) the systems we study are composed of an uncontrollable part (the “object”) and a controlled one (the “robot”), linked by a unilateral where the classical dynamics of Lagrangian systems is in (1), constraint and an impact rule. A systematic and general control de- sign method for this class of systems is proposed. The approach is the set of unilateral constraints is in (2) with , a nontrivial extension of the one degree-of-freedom (DOF) juggler and the so-called complementarity conditions [14] are in (3), control design.
    [Show full text]
  • Pulsed Power Science and Engineering
    Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship (DOE NNSA LRGF) Residency Opportunities at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) pairs multidisciplinary science and engineering with world-class experimental and computing resources to develop technical solutions to the most pressing national security problems of our time. Livermore's defining responsibility is ensuring the safety, security and reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent without nuclear testing. As part of the Stockpile Stewardship Program, LLNL researchers are tackling the grand challenge of understanding the scientific details of nuclear weapons performance through nonnuclear tests and experimentally validated computer simulations. LLNL's national security mission is broader than stockpile stewardship, as dangers from nuclear proliferation and terrorism to energy shortages and climate change threaten both national security and global stability. Livermore's multidisciplinary science and engineering are being applied to achieve breakthroughs for counterterrorism and nonproliferation, defense and intelligence, domestic security and energy and environmental security. Lawrence Livermore offers fellowship opportunities in the following research areas: Pulsed power science and engineering Pulsed power is a critical technology at LLNL, supporting a broad range of applications relating to national security and fundamental science. The pulsed power systems at LLNL range from low-energy ultra-fast pulsers used in diagnostic systems, to explosively-driven flux compression generators, to the 400 million joule pulsed power driver for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) - the world’s largest laser system. For more than 50 years LLNL researchers have been actively researching, developing, designing, instrumenting and executing experiments on pulsed power systems for multiple programs to support high-energy-density physics experiments in support of the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Fusion Rockets for Planetary Defense
    | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Fusion Rockets for Planetary Defense Glen Wurden Los Alamos National Laboratory Exploratory Plasma Research Workshop Feb 26, 2016 LA-UR-16-21396 LA-UR-15-xxxx UNCLASSIFIED Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's NNSA April 2014 | UNCLASSIFIED | 1 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | My collaborators on this topic: T. E. Weber1, P. J. Turchi2, P. B. Parks3, T. E. Evans3, S. A. Cohen4, J. T. Cassibry5, E. M. Campbell6 . 1Los Alamos National Laboratory . 2Santa Fe, NM . 3General Atomics . 4Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory . 5University of Alabama, Huntsville . 6LLE, University of Rochester, Rochester Wurden et al., Journal of Fusion Energy, Vol. 35, 1, 123 (2016) UNCLASSIFIED Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's NNSA April 2014 | UNCLASSIFIED | 2 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | How many ways is electricity made today? Primary Energy Source Nominally CO2 Free Current capacity (%) Expected Lifetime (yrs) Natural Gas no 100 Coal no 80.6 400 Oil no < 50 Biomass neutral 11.4 > 400 Wind yes 0.5 > 1000 Solar photovoltaic yes 0.06 > 1000 Solar thermal yes 0.17 > 1000 Hydro yes 3.3 > 1000 Wave/Tidal yes 0.001 > 1000 Geothermal yes 0.12 > 1000 Nuclear fission yes 2.7 > 400 [i] REN21–Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century Renewables 2012–Global Status Report, 2012, http://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012.pdf , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_development UNCLASSIFIED Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's NNSA April 2014 | UNCLASSIFIED | 3 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | What is the most important product that fusion could deliver? .
    [Show full text]
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory Fusion Research Capabilities
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory Fusion Research Capabilities D. Youchison (Fusion Energy Division) 2020 INFUSE Workshop November 23, 2019 ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC for the US Department of Energy ORNL (X-10) began as a nuclear reactor laboratory specializing in isotope production in 1943 2 ORNL grew into a leading nuclear science laboratory Trained nuclear Contributed Examined Designed, built, Developed engineers to the design the safety, and operated techniques at the Oak Ridge of naval nuclear environmental, 13 experimental for nuclear fuel School of Reactor propulsion and waste reactors reprocessing Technology systems disposal challenges of nuclear energy ORSORT established ORNL’s Geneva reactor ORNL’s Low ORNL’s Bulk Shielding by Alvin Weinberg exhibited at UN Intensity Test Reactor, 1950–1991 and Hyman conference on the Reactor–First visible Rickover, 1950 Peaceful Uses of Atomic Cerenkov glow, 3 Energy, 1955 1950 ~4600 staff members Oak Ridge National Laboratory Thomas Zacharia, Laboratory Director Communications: David Keim Partnerships: TBD Counterintelligence: Selin Warnell Office of Institutional Planning: Ken Tobin Internal Audit: Gail Lewis Office of Research Excellence: Moody Altamimi Michelle Buchanan Jeff Smith General Counsel: David Mandl Deputy for Science and Technology Deputy for Operations Office of Integrated Performance Management: Brian Weston Computing and Energy and National Neutron Nuclear Science Physical Exascale Second US ITER Computational Environmental Security Sciences Sciences and Engineering Sciences
    [Show full text]
  • Does a Single Large Facility Imply Increased Risk?
    Does a Single Large Facility Imply Increased Risk? R. R. Parker MFE ITER/Exp Plenary Does a Single Large Facility Imply Increased Risk? Short Answer: Yes, multiple large facilities would reduce risk, but this is not an option at present. Does a Single Large Facility Imply Increased Risk? Various types of risks can be identified: -Technical -Physics -Programmatic The technical risks can be minimized by a substantial R&D effort. See ITER posters. Physics Risks are Minimized by Maintaining a Strong Base Tokamak Program ST, Stellarator, RFP, other ICCs Base Tokamak Physics physics ASDEX-UG, DIII-D, JT-60U (SU?), JET, CMOD, Tore Supra, FT-U, KSTAR, Plasma Plasma New SC Tokamaks in China, India,…. Electricity Production ITER ETR/DEMO/PROTO Decision to proceed with tokamak-based fusion jor Facilities jor 14-MeV neutron source (Int’l) Ma Volumetric neutron source (?) Base Fusion Power Technologies chnologies Base Plasma Support technologies Fusion Te Fusion Programmatic Risks are Minimized by a Strong Base Stellarator/ICC Program ST, Stellarator, RFP, other ICCs LHD, W7-X, NCSX, TJ-II, ……. NSTX, MAST, …... Base Tokamak Physics physics ASDEX-UG, DIII-D, JT-60U (SU?), JET, CMOD, Tore Supra, FT-U, KSTAR, Plasma Plasma New SC Tokamaks in China, India,…. Electricity Production ITER ETR/DEMO/PROTO Decision to proceed with tokamak-based fusion jor Facilities jor 14-MeV neutron source (Int’l) Ma Volumetric neutron source (?) Base Fusion Power Technologies chnologies Base Plasma Support technologies Fusion Te Fusion ITER or a Sequence of Smaller Steps ? The key issue confronting development of the tokamak into an attractive reactor is sustaining an efficient steady-state (fBS > 70%) at high beta (βn > 3) and good confinement (HH > 1.5 @ q ~ 4.5).
    [Show full text]
  • Quadrocopter Ball Juggling
    Quadrocopter Ball Juggling Mark Muller,¨ Sergei Lupashin and Raffaello D’Andrea Abstract— This paper presents a method allowing a quadro- dancing [8]; balancing an inverted pendulum [9]; aggressive copter with a rigidly attached racket to hit a ball towards a manoeuvres such as flight through windows and perching target. An algorithm is developed to generate an open loop [10]; and cooperative load-carrying [11]. trajectory guiding the vehicle to a predicted impact point – the prediction is done by integrating forward the current position The problem of hitting a ball also yields opportunities and velocity estimates from a Kalman filter. By examining for exploring learning and adaptation: presented here are the ball and vehicle trajectories before and after impact, strategies to identify the drag properties of the ball, the the system estimates the ball’s drag coefficient, the racket’s racket’s coefficient of restitution, and a strategy to compen- coefficient of restitution and an aiming bias. These estimates sate for aiming errors, allowing the system to improve its are then fed back into the system’s aiming algorithm to improve future performance. The algorithms are implemented for three performance over time. This provides a significant boost in different experiments: a single quadrocopter returning balls performance, but only represents an initial step at system- thrown by a human; two quadrocopters co-operatively juggling wide learning. We believe that this system, and systems like a ball back-and-forth; and a single quadrocopter attempting to it, provide strong motivation to experiment with automatic juggle a ball on its own. Performance is demonstrated in the learning in semi-constrained, dynamic environments.
    [Show full text]
  • Fusion-The-Energy-Of-The-Universe
    Fusion The Energy of the Universe WHAT IS THE COMPLEMENTARY SCIENCE SERIES? We hope you enjoy this book. If you would like to read other quality science books with a similar orientation see the order form and reproductions of the front and back covers of other books in the series at the end of this book. The Complementary Science Series is an introductory, interdisciplinary, and relatively inexpensive series of paperbacks for science enthusiasts. The series covers core subjects in chemistry, physics, and biological sciences but often from an interdisciplinary perspective. They are deliberately unburdened by excessive pedagogy, which is distracting to many readers, and avoid the often plodding treatment in many textbooks. These titles cover topics that are particularly appropriate for self-study although they are often used as complementary texts to supplement standard discussion in textbooks. Many are available as examination copies to professors teaching appropriate courses. The series was conceived to fill the gaps in the literature between conventional textbooks and monographs by providing real science at an accessible level, with minimal prerequisites so that students at all stages can have expert insight into important and foundational aspects of current scientific thinking. Many of these titles have strong interdisciplinary appeal and all have a place on the bookshelves of literate laypersons. Potentialauthorsareinvitedtocontactoureditorialoffice: [email protected]. Feedback on the titles is welcome. Titles in the Complementary Science Series are detailed at the end of these pages. A 15% discount is available (to owners of this edition) on other books in this series—see order form at the back of this book.
    [Show full text]
  • Fusion Budget Presentation
    The Administration’s Proposed Budget for Fusion Energy Sciences in FY 2017 E. J. Synakowski Associate Director Office of Science, Fusion Energy Sciences U. S. Department of Energy February 10, 2016 1 The President’s budget roll‐out to Congress is one step in a lengthy process Completed (blue) We are here Forthcoming (green) Final budget FY 2017 Budget Request Summary Budget Categories FY 2016 FY 2016 FY 2017 request enacted request Burning Plasma: Foundations 191,759 214,755 195,607 Burning Plasma: Long Pulse 30,909 41,021 31,355 Burning Plasma: High Power 150,000 115,000 125,000 Discovery Plasma Science 47,332 67,224 46,216 Total 420,000 438,000 398,178 • NOTES: – The “FY 2016 Enacted” figures incorporate preliminary allocations and Budget Omnibus language marks, but are still provisional, pending final evaluations – Also, funding awards in FY 2016 for several recent solicitations (e.g., DIII‐D collaborations, NSTX diagnostics, small‐scale AT/ST/stellarator) are still pending final decisions – FY 2017 requests are informed by strategic thrusts in the FES Ten‐Year Perspective All budget amounts in $K This budget proposal reflects commitment to burning plasma and discovery science • Burning Plasma Science: Foundations – Overall funding for advanced tokamak research is decreased, as operation of Alcator C‐Mod will have ended – Funding for the DIII‐D and NSTX‐U research programs is increased to address the high‐priority fusion science issues identified by the community research needs workshops held in FY 2015 and to support enhanced collaborations with MIT researchers. – Decreased funding for DIII‐D and NSTX‐U operations results in deferment of some facility enhancements and a slight reduction to operating weeks (14 weeks on DIII‐D and 16 weeks on NSTX‐U).
    [Show full text]