Understanding Fusion: Grand Aims, Setbacks, and Miraculous Engineering

Speaker: Dr Nicholas Ranson, ANSTO

Venue and Webinar: AINSE Theatre, ANSTO, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234

12 noon AEST, Wednesday 17 April 2024

Video of Nico’s presentation is at https://youtu.be/WAzlr-2ZoDM

Abstract

The promise of clean, limitless fusion energy has always been on the horizon but forever just out of reach. How close are we really?

This talk reviewed some lesser-known fusor designs. First, the three differing approaches for reaching net-gain fusion – magnetic, electrostatic, and inertial confinement – will be introduced. The techniques to achieve fusion range from multi-billion dollar, decades long multinational projects, to unconventional methods of controlling nuclear explosions, to creative builds cobbled together from CSIRO equipment. Each needs to balance the need to trap high temperature plasmas for fusing self-repelling nuclei, while simultaneously minimising energy losses at the machine’s boundary. Nico discussed how each method proposes to achieve this balance, the problems they subsequently introduce, and guiding dynamical frameworks like the Lawson criterion. Finally, Nico discussed the lesser-known goal for nuclear fusion as a controlled, portable neutron source, and its relevance to established and powerful fission capabilities.

About Dr Nicholas Ranson

Dr Nicholas Ranson works in ANSTO’s Nuclear Analysis Section. He completed his PhD at the University of Sydney studying nuclear fusion plasmas as part of a French / Australian collaborative effort. His interest spans physics, programming, numerical methods and teaching.