3 ms·

SPARC is trying for Q (power out/power in) in the 1-5 range. They see this as critical for getting future funding for ARC. If you think you can get net power,

• pontifier 8y ago
  The prototype would almost certainly be break even at very low powers and densities. There are very few places where my design would lose energy, and basically gives ions unlimited chances to fuse once accelerated. I had many discussions with the head of the physics department at the local university who is a specialist in plasma physics. He was of the opinion that it would work at very low pressures/densities, but that the total output would not be high enough to be commercially viable. What is the actual benefit of a room sized $100k fusion reactor that can only put out 100 watts of energy? I believe I've solved many of those problems, but building a prototype costs $$ that I don't have to spare... I could bankrupt myself to build the prototype but I can't gamble like that with assets that currently feed my family. Though I strongly believe it will work, I'm not going to go down the same hole that Tesla went down. I have no intention of dying penniless surrounded by pigeons. I am on track to build the prototype myself without going into debt in several years once a few of my mortgages are paid off. Right now I own 100% of the IP, and have a submitted patent. I'm not actively looking for funding that would dilute me unless it's a very good deal. I'm kind of stuck bootstrapping unless I can get a grant. I have applied for several in the past, but to no effect.