From: pmk@prometheus.UUCP (Paul M. Koloc)
Newsgroups: sci.physics.fusion
Subject: Re: electrostatic fusion
Date: 1 Jan 93 14:57:12 GMT
Reply-To: pmk@prometheus.UUCP (Paul M. Koloc)
Organization: Prometheus II, Ltd.

In article <1992Dec31.055118.11523@asl.dl.nec.com> terry@asl.dl.nec.com writes:
>Hi folks,
>.. .

>
>In article <1992Dec29.112835.62319@cc.usu.edu> system@cc.usu.edu writes:
>> Introduction:  Researchers at Hill Air Force Base have recently
>> submitted a patent application concerning the use of electrostatic
>> devices for creating nuclear fusion ...
>> The sharp points produce enormous fields. In the phenomena known as
>> Saint Elmo's fire, a corona is observed at the edges of leaves where
>> the charge on the leaves leaks off into the surrounding atmosphere.

> .. .
>
>The thing to remember about these field emission effects is that while they
>do permit electrons to stream off in a decidedly non-classical fashion from
>a cold needle, the total acceleration provided by the effect is no higher
>than it would be for the same voltage differential without the sharp points.
>
>Why?  Because the region of extremely high field gradient is also very, very
>short.  It has to be -- a voltage difference is a voltage difference is a
>voltage difference, and if you "use up" most of the gradient in a very short
>distance, the rest of the gradient will just be very shallow.  E.g.:
>
>        +5V -  _                            +5V ---------------
>                  -  _                                         \
>                        -  _                                    \
>                              - 0V                               \ 0V
>

>The curve to the right ends with a whopper of a voltage gradient, but just as
>a rock released on either of the gravitational equivalent of these two slopes
>would still hit with (ideally) exactly the same energy at the end of the slope,
>the final energy of the electron will be determined only by the difference
>in height (volage), not by how steeply the voltage changes in some regions.

Actually, there are other considerations.  One would like to get electrons
moving through a gas of a certain density. The problem is that when using
a low voltage gradient approach the electron will probably lose all of its
gained energy (on the average) due to collisions with gas atoms.  Thus a 
discharge will not "get started".  Using lower gas density will help 
(longer initial mean free path). To make matters worse, oxygen will even 
adhere electrons to form negative molecules.  

If the gradient is high (sharp) enough so that the electron can gain 
enough energy between collisions from the field to free another electron 
or more from the gas then it is more likely it will speed up between 
collisions and the faster it goes the longer the mean free path gets 
(lower the collision cross-section).  Consequently, such electrons runaway 
until the field decays with distance to an insufficiently supporting 
level.  Once conducting paths are formed from the excess production of 
electrons, they become current streamers which light up and usually can 
be seen.  For example from a laboratory hand tesla coil discharging into 
open air.  The light probably eminates from back flowing ions generated
along the track (recombinations).  

So ... after selecting an appropriate range of gas pressures, the case 
depicted above on the right may disharge while the one on the left will 
not.  

         Now back into the discharge path and fusion.  

Ions generated by the electron removal would then be free to zap 
inward toward the sharp high gradient point.  Note that the very first 
ions arriving maybe what breaks lose a really strong avalance of ions.  
The first ones arriving would then be inertially compressed
by the following much denser radially closing ion wave. But ---
I'm sure you realize this part is pure speculation and even if somewhat
true, the effect may not be anywhere near good enough to produce 
commercial levels of fusion or aneutronic energy. -- in this business,
Who knows.  
>				Cheers, Terry
+---------------------------------------------------------+**********+
| Paul M. Koloc, President, Prometheus II, Ltd.           +Commercial*
|                   Bx 222, College Park, MD 20740-0222   ***FUSION***
| mimsy!promethe!pmk        pmk%prometheus@mimsy.umd.edu  ***in the***
| (301) 445-1075            promethe=prometheus           **Nineties**
+---------------------------------------------------------************