Progress on the Houghton College Fusor

dc.contributor.authorRaymond, Steven
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-06T18:50:15Z
dc.date.available2020-06-06T18:50:15Z
dc.date.issued2020-06-06
dc.description.abstractInertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) is an approach to controlled nuclear fusion that uses electrostatic fields to confine the plasma. One type of IEC device, similar to the “fusor” design described in the 1968 patent application [10] by Philo T. Farnsworth, has been constructed at Houghton College. The device consists of two concentric spherical wire mesh electrodes inside a vacuum chamber. A potential of up to -30 kV can be applied to the inner cathode electrode relative to the grounded outer anode electrode. Low pressure gas admitted into the chamber becomes ionized, the positive ions are accelerated towards and fall through the inner negative cathode grid, forming a virtual anode near the center. These ions then oscillate between the outer anode and inner virtual anode. Because of the energies involved, if filled with deuterium gas nuclear fusion reactions would occur. The Houghton College Fusor is currently being modified to prevent sparking at the cathode stalk and configured for remote operation.
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.houghton.edu/handle/hc/3729
dc.publisherHoughton College
dc.rightsAuthors retain the copyright for all content posted in this repository. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed beyond the Houghton College community without permission except in accordance with fair use doctrine.
dc.subjectStudent Projects
dc.titleProgress on the Houghton College Fusor
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Steven-Raymond_2020.pdf
Size:
1.11 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Collections