List of fusor examples

The following is a list of fusor examples, examples of the fusor-type nuclear fusion reactor that uses inertial electrostatic confinement

Professional

Fusors have been theoretically studied at multiple institutions, including: Kyoto University,{{cite journal |title=Beam optics in inertial electrostatic confinement fusion |journal=Review of Scientific Instruments |last1=Ohnishi |first1=Masami |last2=Hoshino |first2=Chikara |last3=Yoshikawa |first3=Kiyoshi |last4=Masuda |first4=Kai |last5=Yamamoto |first5=Yasushi |volume=71 |issue=2 |date=February 2000 |pages=1210–1212 |doi=10.1063/1.1150430|bibcode=2000RScI...71.1210O }} and Kyushu University.{{cite journal |title=Ion distribution function and radial profile of neutron production rate in spherical inertial electrostatic confinement plasmas |journal=Nuclear Fusion |last1=Matsuura |first1=H. |last2=Takaki |first2=T. |last3=Funakoshi |first3=K. |last4=Nakao |first4=Y. |last5=Kudo |first5=K. |volume=40 |issue=12 |date=2000 |pages=1951–1954 |doi=10.1088/0029-5515/40/12/101|s2cid=250801202 }} Researchers meet annually at the US-Japan Workshop on Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion. The following is a list of machines that were actually built.

Tokyo Institute of Technology has four IEC devices of different shapes: a spherical machine, a cylindrical device, a co-axial double cylinder and a magnetically assisted device.{{cite conference |url=http://www.iae.kyoto-u.ac.jp/beam/iec2013/presentation/1-2.pdf |title=Overview of IEC Research at Tokyo Tech |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221011421/http://www.iae.kyoto-u.ac.jp/beam/iec2013/presentation/1-2.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2013 |last=Hotta |first=Eiki |conference=15th annual US-Japan IEC workshop |date=7 October 2013 |location=Kyoto, Japan}}
University of Wisconsin-Madison A group at Wisconsin-Madison has been running a very large, funded, fusor program since 1991.{{cite conference |doi=10.1109/FUSION.1999.849787 |last1=Ashley |first1=R.P. |last2=Kulcinski |first2=G.L. |last3=Santarius |first3=J.F. |last4=Murali |first4=S.K. |last5=Piefer |first5=G. |title=D-/sup 3/He fusion in an inertial electrostatic confinement device |conference=18th IEEE/NPSS Symposium on Fusion Engineering |date=1999 |location=Albuquerque, NM}}
Turkish Atomic Energy Authority In 2013 this team built a 30 cm fusor at the Saraykoy Nuclear Research and Training center in Turkey. This fusor can reach 85 kV and do deuterium fusion, producing {{val|2.4|e=4}} neutrons per second.{{cite journal |title=Preliminary Results of Experimental Studies from Low Pressure Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Device |last1=Bölükdemir |first1=A.S. |last2=Akgün |first2=Y. |last3=Alaçakır |first3=A. |journal=Journal of Fusion Energy |date=2013 |volume=32 |issue=5 |pages=561–565 |doi=10.1007/s10894-013-9607-z|bibcode=2013JFuE...32..561B |s2cid=120272975 }}
University of Illinois Dr. George Miley's team at the fusion studies laboratory has built a ~25 cm fusor which has produced {{val|1|e=7}} neutrons per second using deuterium gas.{{cite journal |title=A portable neutron/tunable X-ray source based on inertial electrostatic confinement |last=Miley |first=George H. |journal=Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment |volume=422 |issue=1–3 |date=1999 |pages=16–20 |doi=10.1016/S0168-9002(98)01108-5|bibcode=1999NIMPA.422...16M }}
University of Sydney Dr. Joseph Khachan's group in the Department of Physics has built a variety of IEC devices in both positive and negative polarities and spherical and cylindrical geometries.{{cite web |url=http://www.plasma.ee.kansai-u.ac.jp/iec2010/pdf/pdf_slides_posters/Khachan.pdf |title=Overview of IEC at the University of Sydney |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718053343/http://www.plasma.ee.kansai-u.ac.jp/iec2010/pdf/pdf_slides_posters/Khachan.pdf |archive-date=2014-07-18 }}
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Researchers at Shahid Beheshti University in Iran have built a 60 cm diameter fusor which can produce {{val|1|e=7}} neutrons per second at 140 kV using deuterium gas.{{cite journal |title=Experimental Study of the Iranian Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion Device as a Continuous Neutron Generator |last=Damideh |first=V. |journal=Journal of Fusion Energy |date=11 June 2011 |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=109–111 |doi=10.1007/s10894-011-9438-8|s2cid=254651166 }}
Los Alamos National Laboratory In the late nineties, researchers purposed"Stable, thermal equilibrium, large-amplitude, spherical plasma oscillations in electrostatic confinement devices", DC Barnes and Rick Nebel, PHYSICS OF PLASMAS VOLUME 5, NUMBER 7 JULY 1998 and built a fusor-like system for oscillating plasma, inside a fusor. This device is known as the Periodically Oscillating Plasma Sphere or POPS.{{cite journal |title=Equilibrium and low-frequency stability of a uniform density, collisionless, spherical Vlasov system |last1=Barnes |first1=D.C. |last2=Chacón |first2=L. |last3=Finn |first3=J.M. |journal=Physics of Plasmas |volume=9 |issue=11 |date=November 2002 |pages=4448–4464 |doi=10.1063/1.1510667|bibcode=2002PhPl....9.4448B }}
Massachusetts Institute of Technology For his doctoral thesis in 2007, Carl Dietrich built a fusor and studied its potential use in spacecraft propulsion.{{cite thesis |last=Dietrich |first=Carl |title=Improving particle confinement in inertial electrostatic fusion for spacecraft power and propulsion |date=2007 |url=https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/39702 |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics |hdl=1721.1/39702 |degree=Ph.D.}} In addition, Tom McGuire did his thesis{{cite thesis |title=Improved Lifetimes and Synchronization Behavior in Multi-grid Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion Devices |date= February 2007 |last=McGuire |first=Thomas John |url=https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/38527 |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics |hdl= 1721.1/38527 |degree=Ph.D.}}{{cite conference |title=Numerical Predictions of Enhanced Ion Confinement in a Multi-grid IEC Device |last1=McGuire |first1=Thomas |last2=Sedwick |first2=Raymond |conference=44th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit |date=21 July 2008 |location=Hartford, Connecticut |doi=10.2514/6.2008-4675}} on fusors with multiple cages and ion guns.
ITT Corporation Hirschs original machine was a 17.8 cm diameter machine with 150 kV voltage drop across it.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} This machine used ion beams.
Phoenix Nuclear Labs has developed a commercial neutron source based on a fusor, achieving {{val|3|e=11}} neutrons per second with the deuterium-deuterium fusion reaction.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Amateur

File:Taylor Wilson Presenting Fusor to Obama.jpg

A number of amateurs have built working fusors and detected neutrons. Many fusor enthusiasts connect on forums{{cite web |url=http://www.fusor.net/ |title=Home |website=fusor.net}} and message boards online. Below are some examples of working fusors.

Richard Hull Since the late nineties, Richard Hull has built several fusors in his home in Richmond, Virginia.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJL3RQ4I-iE |date=26 November 2008 |title=Living with a nuclear reactor |last=Schechner |first=Sam |website=YouTube}} In March 1999, he achieved a neutron rate of {{val|10|e=5}} neutrons per second.{{cite web |title=Neutron Club |last=Hull |first=Richard |url=http://prometheusfusionperfection.com/category/fusor/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |date=9 June 2010}} Hull maintains a list of amateurs who have detected neutrons from fusors.
Carl Greninger Founded the Northwest Nuclear Consortium,{{cite web |url=http://lobby.nwnc.us.com/SitePages/Home.aspx |title=Home |website=Northwest Nuclear Consortium |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413080635/http://lobby.nwnc.us.com/SitePages/Home.aspx |archive-date=13 April 2016 |access-date=1 February 2024 |url-status=live }} an organization in Washington state which teaches a class of a dozen high school students nuclear engineering principles using a 60 kV fusor.{{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbeAcFy3ErM| title = Overview of the North West Nuclear Consortium in 2012 | website=YouTube |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523215550/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbeAcFy3ErM |archive-date=23 May 2014}}
Taylor Wilson built a Fusor at 14 years old in 2008.{{cite news |last=Dutton |first=Judy |title=Teen nuclear scientist fights terror |website=CNN |date=1 September 2011 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2011/09/01/living/teen-nuclear-scientist/index.html}}{{cite AV media |last=Wilson |first=Taylor |title=Yup, I built a nuclear fusion reactor |date=March 2012 |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/taylor_wilson_yup_i_built_a_nuclear_fusion_reactor?language=en |publisher=TED}}
Jackson Oswalt built a Fusor at 12 years age in 2018. He is youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion as described by Guinness World Records{{Cite web |title=Youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion (male) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/596440-youngest-person-to-achieve-nuclear-fusion |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241222115715/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/596440-youngest-person-to-achieve-nuclear-fusion |archive-date=2024-12-22 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Guinness World Records |language=en-GB}}
Matthew Honickman Was a high school student who built a working fusor in his basement in Rochester, New York.{{cite news |title=Building Electronics is teen's favorite leisure activity |last=Verghese |first=Ashwin |date=6 January 2010 |work=Democrat and Chronicle}}
Michael Li In 2003, Michael Li became the youngest person to date to build a fusor, winning second placeIntel STS, {{cite web|url=https://www.societyforscience.org/content/ssp-blog/alumni-watch-michael-li-data-incubator |title=Alumni to watch: Michael Li & The Data Incubator |accessdate=2014-11-08 }}{{dead link |date=January 2024}} in the US Intel Science Talent Search winning a $75,000 college scholarship.
Mark Suppes A web designer for Gucci in Brooklyn New York, built a working fusor on a path to building the first amateur Polywell.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvkoklpubiw |last=Suppes |first=Mark |title=I still don't know everything I should |date=11 December 2012 |publisher=Wired UK |website=YouTube}}{{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etlb43suCoc| title = Local Fusion Reactor | website=YouTube |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627082309/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etlb43suCoc |archive-date=27 June 2014 |url-status=live}}
Thiago David Olson Built a 40 kV fusor at age 17, in his home in Rochester, Michigan and placed second in the International Science and Engineering Fair in 2007.{{cite web |title=Teen builds basement nuclear reactor |website=Popular Science |url=https://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2007-03/popsci-videoteen-builds-basement-nuclear-reactor/ |last=Mone |first= Gregory |date=20 March 2007}}{{cite web |title=Radioactive Boy Scout |website=Discover Magazine |last=Ornes |first=Steven |date=7 March 2007 |url=https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/radioactive-boy-scout}}"Neutron Activation Analysis Using an Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion Reactor," Thiago David Olson of Stoney Creek High School, Rochester Hills, Michigan AVS Newsletter, Fall 2007, page 3, 2007 Intel 58th International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Jamie Edwards who fused the atom at 13, at his middle school in England.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iter.org/newsline/-/1876|title=Do 13 year olds actually build fusion reactors? |last=Arnoux |first=Robert |date=26 March 2014 |website=iter.org}} He received a letter from the Duke of York, was invited on The David Letterman Show and gave a TED talk.{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211208/tQV44wVQ7OQ| archive-date = 2021-12-08| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQV44wVQ7OQ| title = Achieving nuclear fusion at the age of 13 {{!}} Jamie Edwards {{!}} TEDxSalford | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Conrad Farnsworth of Newcastle, Wyoming produced fusion in 2011 at 17{{Cite web|url=http://trib.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/teen-makes-nuclear-reactor-in-dad-s-shed/article_e9576aa3-9df4-550a-9778-29c4843104ed.html|title = Teen makes nuclear reactor in dad's shed| date=3 February 2013 |website=Casper Star Tribune}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/conrad-farnsworth-builds-nuclear-fusion-reactor-garage_n_2616998.html|title = Conrad Farnsworth, Wyoming Teen, Builds Nuclear Fusion Reactor In Garage (VIDEO)|website = HuffPost|date = 4 February 2013}} and used this to win a regional and state science fair.

List of fusor examples

Professional

Amateur

References

See also