fusion33r

Mostly for the learning experience. I learned so much by doing this project. Plasma physics, high vacuum systems, high voltage, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear physics, etc. I hope to use our reactor for future research that might benefit the fusion effort. Also, I have made so many connections. I am on a first name basis with several top professors and an extremely successful entrepreneur.

To my knowledge, yes.

My mom almost called the police and the fire department... twice. My dad is a firefighter. Every time I want to do another test, my mom leaves the house. She is now more supportive but still fears for my safety like most mothers would.

ITER is attempting breakeven fusion (output energy > input energy). We are nowhere near breakeven fusion. Our reactor is very inefficient largely due to the fact that the cathode is constantly bombarded with ions, which then lose energy and lack the required kinetic energy to fuse.

While it it running, living things should not be within 35 feet as x-ray radiation is quite high but drops off as the square of the distance (assuming isotropic emission from a spherical source). I have a Geiger counter and was not able to detect a rise in radiation at 35 feet away. The power supply is remotely operated.