D-D fusion using inertial-electrostatic confinement

Abstract

Traditional inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) fusion reactor designs utilize an ion-accelerating grid to fuse two deuterium ions together, by bombarding them against each other at high velocity. The purpose of this project was to construct a fusor using the available vacuum system. In the event, it was not possible to actually use the device as a fusor, because deuterium gas was not available, and also the lack of a sufficiently powerful power supply. Nevertheless, operating the device with nitrogen and helium gave promising results when a jet-mode plasma, named for a central concentration of ions with a jet of electrons leaving the centre was achieved. Measured characteristics of the plasma obtained were recorded and discussed. From the results obtained it was evident that a higher potential would be needed if any measurable fusion rates were to be obtained once the chamber is filled with deuterium. Various improvements that need to be implemented to the device were also discussed, should better ion confinement and plasma manifestation be obtained.