| There are many /fusors
in the archive, they cover a wide span of improvements; these few are
representative of the best work before Phil left the project.
In discussions I have had with members of the fusion team in the past few years, the max power reached was about 10E11 fusions per second, and after Phil left, I understand that Gene Meeks and Robt Hirsch logged in 10E12 fusions per second. (this was extrapolated from the neutron count measured immediately around the fusor.) This is well short of "breakeven".
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| Last of the Fusors (above) to be tested in a glass bell-jar. Camera magic shows the outer anode, and the inner cathode (see picture). All the anodes were very similar, it was the cathode design where intense study was directed. (see cathodes elsewhere) |
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| The outer anode in this model, and those to follow, is now an anode and the vacuum vessal. All fusors have this central sphere and the ion guns attach to this sphere and then fuel manifold and various other peripherals to monitor operation. This structure is similar to the one below. I do not know the exact measurements, but I would estimate the anode at nine inches. |
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Fusor ready to descend out of harm's way. Vacuum pumps, instruments, fuel and even a couple power supplies all descend with it. Dropping in a 15' hole made testing at higher power levels possible, but still fell short of protecting the engineers at power levels which Phil had stated were necessary to test the properties of the possior; something I still feel begs to be done. The deal, as I understood it: Phil was to get a controlled, nuclear fusion reaction in the lab in Fort Wayne, and then they would build a facility for the extended work in a suitable (remote) area. Phil lived up to his part of that bargain. |