Hello DAVID!

02 May 05 16:05, DAVID WILLIAMS wrote to MICHIEL VAN DER VLIST:

 ->>  > I won't cite the famous "in 50 years" here,
because that's what 
 ->>  > they're saying since the 50s, 

 DW> Back then, they said that practical fusion reactors should exist 
 DW> within TWENTY years! 

As I said before, some complications arose that no-one had imagined then.
From simple estimations you can deduce that one should be able to reach hot
fusion in a more or less table-top sized device. However, the plasma showed
unexpected instabilities (e.g. so-called H-modes) and it took some effort
(in time and money) to understand and solve these issues. With nuclear
fission reactors (and bombs) already at hand, there was never /that/ much
pressure put behind the development of fusion devices from the people
(mostly politicians) who give the money for doing research.
"In 30-50 years" (a commercially usable fusion reactor will be
available, given research and funding like it is planned now) is the latest
statement I heard from a colleague who is working in the ASDEX Upgrade
team. Sooner is possible, but requires (naturally :-) more effort.


Regards,
Gerrit

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