First Light Oxford announces first projectile fusion
Discussion
Interesting stuff, and who doesn't love a big gun:
"Oxford, UK: First Light Fusion (First Light), the University of Oxford fusion spin-out, today confirms it has achieved fusion. The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has independently validated the result.
This is the first time fusion has been achieved using the unique targets developed by First Light, and the corresponding projectile technology. First Light’s mission is to solve the problem of fusion power with the simplest machine possible. Projectile fusion is a new approach to inertial fusion that is simpler, more energy efficient, and has lower physics risk. First Light has achieved fusion having spent less than £45 million, and with a rate of performance improvement faster than any other fusion scheme in history."
https://firstlightfusion.com/media/fusion
The Times article a couple of weeks ago was quite prescient:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/can-this-scient...
"Oxford, UK: First Light Fusion (First Light), the University of Oxford fusion spin-out, today confirms it has achieved fusion. The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has independently validated the result.
This is the first time fusion has been achieved using the unique targets developed by First Light, and the corresponding projectile technology. First Light’s mission is to solve the problem of fusion power with the simplest machine possible. Projectile fusion is a new approach to inertial fusion that is simpler, more energy efficient, and has lower physics risk. First Light has achieved fusion having spent less than £45 million, and with a rate of performance improvement faster than any other fusion scheme in history."
https://firstlightfusion.com/media/fusion
The Times article a couple of weeks ago was quite prescient:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/can-this-scient...
They are going for the printer ink profit model I see. Could still potentially be an excellent interim fusion design to be used as an alternative to fission until someone gets a magnetic containment version to work. It is even possible that this could work out as the most feasible method.
Toltec said:
They are going for the printer ink profit model I see. Could still potentially be an excellent interim fusion design to be used as an alternative to fission until someone gets a magnetic containment version to work. It is even possible that this could work out as the most feasible method.
It's pretty exciting because from the looks of it incremental progress could be pretty rapid in fusion terms.I've been following Culham for years, major announcement every 20 years or so, the National Ignition Facility in America every ten years, ITER maybe ever 15 years.....
I'm hoping for at least yearly updates of this project.
Looks like a small hydrogen bomb with an assault rifle on automatic fire to detonate it.
I compare it to the first rattling ic engines compared to the glorious steady state steam engines of the time, and look how quickly they developed, despite all the initial mechanical / noise / reliability / thermal issues
Still not convinced though, just doesn`t look like a neat solution
I compare it to the first rattling ic engines compared to the glorious steady state steam engines of the time, and look how quickly they developed, despite all the initial mechanical / noise / reliability / thermal issues
Still not convinced though, just doesn`t look like a neat solution
Pobolycwm said:
Looks like a small hydrogen bomb with an assault rifle on automatic fire to detonate it.
I compare it to the first rattling ic engines compared to the glorious steady state steam engines of the time, and look how quickly they developed, despite all the initial mechanical / noise / reliability / thermal issues
Still not convinced though, just doesn`t look like a neat solution
I think they'd be the first to say it's not a neat tokomak, no.I compare it to the first rattling ic engines compared to the glorious steady state steam engines of the time, and look how quickly they developed, despite all the initial mechanical / noise / reliability / thermal issues
Still not convinced though, just doesn`t look like a neat solution
They are pretty clear their approach is all about development speed.
Far as I can see their actual reactor design is a chamber with lithium flowing through to absorb the heat energy from successive explosions.
Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff