[Rhodes22-list] New Nuclear Energy Ideas

[Hank]

I'm not a physicist, but I am pretty sure that fusion is still along
way off.  If I remember correctly, the issue is that Fusion occurs
inside a 'plasma' of extremely high temperatures (millions of degrees)
and we have not yet figured out how to do that safely and with less
energy than is produced by the fusion reaction.  Currently it takes
more energy to maintain the plasma than what is produced by the
reaction.

Fusion does have a by product.  fusion is the combine of two atoms or
molecules into a third molecule.  The sun is a massive fusion reaction
which basically combines hydrogen atoms into helium molecules.  The
upside to this is that the byproduct is usually a harmless product.

The centrifuge you speak of in Texas was actually a giant
Supercollider which consisted of a particle accelerator which hyper
accelerated atoms to collide them with stationary atoms or molecules
for research.  I don't remember exactly why it was cancelled other
than for budgetary reasons.

Hank


On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 20:26:03 -0500, ed kroposki <ekroposki at charter.net> wrote:
> Paul, Rummy,
>        Before someone more knowledgeable than me points out that this
> concept has been around for at least 30 or 40 years.  Another version has
> been around even longer, it is called a 'perpetual motion machine'.  These
> were for sale before the Brooklyn Bridge.
>        I recall that there was a study of fusion to take place in Texas.
> It was a Lyndon Johnson pet project.  It required a centrifuge several miles
> in diameter.  I believe the federal government acquired the land and was
> digging its tunnels when the powers that be decided not to spend the several
> hundred billion to finish the project.
>        Guys, check your history books on this one.
> 
> Ed K
> Greenville, SC, USA
> Addendum:  "The 1980's demonstrated that inaccuracy was not permitted in the
> corporate world, but lying was totally acceptable." John M. Capozzi, Why
> Climb the Corporate Ladder When You Can Take the Elevator.
> 
> 
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