Comments on: Don Gay’s “The Bussard Fusion Concept”

By: Ronald Lee Townsend

Ronald Lee Townsend — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:39:51 +0000

“Through injection into the sphere, this gas ionizes…” What is the mechanism that causes the gas to ionize?

“six electron guns…are arranged around the outside surface of the sphere as three diametrically opposed pairs. When these guns are fired, electrons stream toward the center of the sphere…” By what mechanism do the electrons “stream” toward the center of the shpere? In a CRT they stream toward the face of the tube because of a very large positive potential at the face of the tube.

By: Don Gay

Don Gay — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:20:48 +0000

I just noticed the comments above and want to correct one person’s statement. The positively charged electrical grid for extracting the energy does not confine the electrons. It is the field from the external electromagnets. The “core” or “well” has already been conclusively demonstrated without the internal electrical grid even being in place. Due to the volume of emails that I’ve received, I’m not able to respond to them as I would like. I would encourage those with an interest to watch for news from those doing the research as the project progresses. Thank you.

By: Kevin Klassen

Kevin Klassen — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:35:50 +0000

Tony Belding, there are 2 different grids being discussed. The grid you mention is on the outside of the whole device for direct energy conversion.
MSimon is correct, the magrid is the term used for the magnets and their casings that are used for confining the electrons. The magnetic field weakly traps electrons in the centre. The positive charge on the magrid keeps electrons that escape the centre recirculating back in. The magnetic field also keeps the electrons from crashing into the positively charged grid. All those forces work to create a device with a dense core of electrons without any grid. The area inside the magrid is equivalent to the area inside a traditional fusor, without the grid. Head over to http://www.talk-polywell.org for links to papers and diagrams that should make it more clear.

By: Tony Belding

Tony Belding — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:11:48 +0000

M. Simon. . . The positively charged grid that Don mentioned does *not* trap the electrons. That grid is only used for extracting energy from the helium nuclei after fusion has already occurred. In a test reactor (as opposed to a power plant), you wouldn’t even need any grid.

You may have confused the charged grid with the grids used in earlier IEC reactor designs. They used a charged grid to maintain the electrostatic potential in the center for the reactor. The problem, of course, was that ions kept impacting the grid, which meant energy was lost and most likely the grid was melted or eroded away. The breakthrough of Dr. Bussard’s “polywell” design lies in getting rid of that grid and replacing it with electrons trapped using magnetic fields. The whole grid collision problem is then removed.

By: Joe Strout

Joe Strout — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:40:25 +0000

I’d like a copy of the PDF mentioned. How can I get it, or how can I get in touch with Don Gay?

By: M. Simon

M. Simon — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:04:04 +0000

The magnetic field does not trap the electrons. The positively charged grid does that.

The magnetic field shields the grid and causes a density gradient in the electrons. It allows particle density to be higher in the reaction space than the rest of the machine.

What goes on in the machine is subtle.