Those who follow my threads have seen me post info on The Dipole Fusion Confinement Concept
LDX
The Levitated Dipole eXperiment
LDX is a novel experimental device designed to explore the physics of plasma confinement in a magnetic dipole field. What makes it unique? Besides
levitating a 1/2 ton superconducting ring, we will conduct the first experimental test on the theory of plasma confinement by adiabatic
compressibility. If this concept turns out to be correct, levitated dipoles may one day make an attractive magnetically confined fusion energy source.
LDX is a collaboration between Columbia University's Dept. of Applied Physics and the MIT Plasma Science & Fusion Center and is funded by the
Department of Energy's Office of Fusion Energy.
I am sure you will recall having seen this in my posts
The original information and white paper can be found here
www.thelivingmoon.com...
First posted on my site Aug 20, 2007
The important points...
Previous studies [1-4] indicate that a levitated dipole would be favorable for a D-He3 fuel cycle based power source. The D-D cycle is the
most promising because of the availability of deuterium. Recently we have considered utilizing a levitated dipole for the D-D cycle based power
source. Fusion reactors based on the deuterium-deuterium (D-D) reaction would be superior to D-T based reactors in so far as they can greatly reduce
the power produced in neutrons and do not requires the breeding of tritium. In a recent article titled "Helium Catalyzed D-D Fusion in a Levitated
Dipole" we have proposed a fusion power source, based on an alternative fuel cycle which we call ``helium catalyzed D-D". We have explored the
application of a levitated dipole as a D-D power source and found that a dipole may have the unique capability of producing excellent energy
confinement accompanied by low particle confinement. Additionally a levitated dipole device would be intrinsically steady state and extract power
as surface heating, permitting a thin walled vacuum vessel and eliminating the need for a massive neutron shield. We find that a dipole based D-D
power source can potentially provide a substantially better utilization of magnetic field energy with a comparable mass power
Okay minimal shielding, no nuclear waste with the added advantage that the generator levitates.
Now would that no be an ideal power source for a saucer?
HE3 that wonder fuel that is scattered around on the moon, some trillion metric tons of it, enough to power our planet for 10,000 years (25 tonnes
will power the USA for one year - 25 tonnes is the capacity of one shuttle trip - 100 tons will power the entire world for a year)
Now an update...
They have recorded the first 'flight' of such a device
First Flight of the Levitated Dipole Experiment
The Levitated Dipole eXperiment
MIT Plasma Physics Department
psfcwww2.psfc.mit.edu...
[edit on 23-6-2009 by zorgon]