OUSS Trinity '14 - Eric Lerner (pt 1)

Abstract:

LPPFusion, Inc. is carrying out an effort that could lead to the demonstration of a new source of energy that is safe, clean, unlimited and far cheaper than any existing energy source. Our approach to fusion, Focus Fusion, based on the dense plasma focus (DPF) device, uses the natural instabilities of plasmas to concentrate energy. This is very different than most approaches to fusion that instead try to suppress these instabilities. Our approach is theoretically based on the behavior of plasma as observed both in astrophysical phenomena like solar flares and quasars as well as in thousand of laboratory experiments with the DPF. In our own experiments, we have achieved confined temperatures in excess of 1.8 billion degrees, high enough to ignite aneutronic fuels, especially hydrogen-boron. Aneutronic fuels, which produce no neutrons, have enormous promise as an energy source. They produce no radioactive waste and, since the energy is generated in the form of moving charged particles, energy conversion can potentially be far cheaper than existing steam turbines. This talk will report on our latest results, which we believe show the way to achieve net energy production in the laboratory within about 12-18 months. In order to raise money for some critical parts, we are now carrying out a crowdfunding campaign. If this research phase is successful we estimate the engineering development of these small devices will take about 3-4 more years.

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Biographical notes: Eric Lerner

Eric Lerner has been active in dense plasma focus (DPF) device research for 30 years. Beginning in 1984, he developed a detailed quantitative theory of the functioning of DPF device. Based on this theory, he proposed that it could achieve high ion energies at high densities, suitable for aneutronic fusion and for space propulsion. Preliminary confirmation of these theories was obtained in experiments funded by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in collaboration with University of Illinois and Texas A & M University. In addition, he developed an original model of the role of the quantum magnetic field effect on DPF device functioning, showing that this effect could increase ion temperature and decrease electron temperature, which would reduce unwanted X-ray cooling of the plasma. At the LPPFusion Focus Fusion-1 facility he has supervised experiments demonstrating confinement of plasma at a record temperature of over 1.8 billion degrees.

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