Friday, June 3, 2011

Focus Fusion as Propulsion

I've always liked this idea. Take a look at this picture: from Fusion Taking Focus Fall 2010 Update on YouTube.

Focus Fusion Generator Device
The thing you can notice here is that the fusion takes place inside the electrode.  There is a high energy particle beam that is emitted from the electrode, which is shown as a bright light in the center of the device.  The particle beam, which is alpha particles- if I am not mistaken- go through a coil type device, which convert the kinetic energy of the particles into electricity.  The alpha particles have an electric charge, due to the positive charge of the two protons of the Helium nucleii in each particle.  That is how you can get electricity.

Now, if you don't use this coil, and just allow the particle beam to exit the device as would a magnetic nozzle of a rocket, this would generate thrust.  The amount of the thrust would depend upon how much mass is emitted and at what velocity.  Considering how powerful the particle beam is, and how much electricity they are hoping to obtain from it, it should be a considerable amount of thrust potential.

Here's another video that shows the bright flash that occurs as the shot takes place.

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