4 ms·
Mr Fusion isn't going to go on board airliners any time soon if Mr Fusion is running on a De/T cycle reaction -- did you notice the He + n side of the equation?
by cstross 14y ago
Mr Fusion isn't going to go on board airliners any time soon if Mr Fusion is running on a De/T cycle reaction -- did you notice the He + n side of the equation? Fusion neutrons are not your friend, and a good chunk of the 'magic' of a working fusion reactor is going to lie in how it takes those neutral, uncharged, go-through-lead-like-it's-barely-there neutrons and turns them into heat (and thus electricity).
- jlgreco 14y agoAre the neutrons that fusion kicks off particularly more difficult to deal with than those kicked off by fission?
- dalke 14y agoMr. Fusion doesn't run on a De/T cycle. It can use a banana peel, beer, and the beer can itself as fuel. No, it makes no physical sense. Perhaps it's a branding name, since "Mr. Zero Point Energy" doesn't flow as well.
- nexox 14y agoNote: Lead (and dense materials in general) are not known for their abilities to absorb or slow neutrons - typically shielding is composed of materials composed of a high proportion of light hydrogen atoms, such as water, wax, or plastic.
- russell 14y agoIIRC, trapping the neutrons in water or some similar compound is how the power is extracted from a D-T reaction. However, my ignorance exceeds my curiosity.