Few people are aware of the many conditions under which fusion can occur. Luckily, Irv Lindemuth and Richard Siemon have written a review of fusion to help the rest of us identify the density-temperature space where fusion gain can be achieved. The analysis offers a general understanding why there is such an extreme difference between the conventional approaches to controlled fusion, MCF (which uses a giant “magnetic cage” and ICF (which uses hundreds of laser beams pointed at a small target). It also helps us see how much of the parameter space of fusion has yet to be explored.

This clarifying overview of fusion came to our attention at the Fusion Power Associates Meeting, where Dr. Lindemuth presented a talk, now available (PDF file): Fusion Parameter Space from First…

When exploring the idea of fusion, many people invoke the sun, not as inspiration, but as a reason to dismiss the earthly fusion program.

Variations

Variants of this phenomenon include Joe Romm who says:

I am a big proponent of harnessing the power of fusion — from 93 million miles away.

Sensible. And yet… let’s visualize.

The Sun.

A huge ball of nuclear fusion.

All that MASS and POWER.

Just to twinkle.