Lawrenceville Plasma Physics (LPP) researchers believe that the main problem impeding higher density and yields in LPP’s FF-1 device is metal impurities in the plasma. A new optical-UV spectrometer from Ocean Optics, has been used to measure the impurities and confirmed what they are and their amounts. This important step forward was taken with the able help of summer Research Associate Kyle Lindheimer, a student at Penn State University, under the direction of LPP Lab Director Derek Shannon.
They have found more than enough silver to disrupt the plasma filaments and prevent higher density plasmoids and more fusion yield. The solution is to eliminate the silver and copper in the electrodes and replace them with tungsten.
This will take a few months to design and fabricate the tungsten electrode. After this is done there should be several times improvement in performance.
Crowdfunding preparations are underway
LPP dense plasma focus fusion researchers are also preparing to launch a crowdfunding effort to raise funds for their commercial fusion project.
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