On the neutron thing — you’ll want to pay attention to a process called dense plasma focus. Here’s a google search.http://bit.ly/SvLSOt
They’re part of a family of fusion research that creates fusion without neutrons. They claim their reactor will convert the energy from fusion directly into electricity —without any radioactivity—rather than using the reaction to create heat for a boiler. They claim they have two out of three steps for making a fusion reactor completed.
A lot of claims going on. But their fusion experiments seem to offer a more plausible path to fusion power than iter or lenr
Thanks ck, but the operative phrase there is “They claim”. It reminds me of the Asimov short story “Pate de Fois Gras”.
This is interesting:
http://lawrencevilleplasmaphysics.com/
[snip] Our lead project is the development of an ecologicaly [sic] safe fusion energy generator using a device called the dense plasma focus (DPF) and hydrogen-boron fuel, an approach we call “Focus Fusion”. This work was initially funded by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is now backed by over forty private investors including the Abell Foundation of Baltimore. LPP’s patented technology and peer-reviewed science are guiding the design of this technology for this virutally [sic] unlimited source of clean energy that can be significantly cheaper than any other energy sources currently in use. [/snip]
And guess what — neutrons:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dense_plasma_focus
[snip] Intense bursts of X-rays and charged particles are emitted, as are nuclear fusion neutrons,[1] when operated using deuterium. There is ongoing research that demonstrates potential applications as a soft X-ray source[2] for next-generation microelectronics lithography, surface micromachining, pulsed X-ray and neutron source for medical and security inspection applications and materials modification,[3] among others... For nuclear weapons applications, dense plasma focus devices can be used as an external neutron source.[4] Other applications include simulation of nuclear explosions (for testing of the electronic equipment) and a short and intense neutron source useful for non-contact discovery or inspection of nuclear materials (uranium, plutonium). [/snip]