If this became reality it would be epic gamechanger!

Lockheed Martin has quietly obtained a patent associated with its design for a potentially revolutionary compact fusion reactor, or CFR. If this project has been progressing on schedule, the company could debut a prototype system that size of shipping container, but capable of powering a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier or 80,000 homes, sometime in the next year or so.

Link to full article.

I heard about this a couple of years ago, but considered it a bit pie in the sky. If it works its a HUUUUUGGGGEEEE game changer.

It is certainly cool, but is it cold?

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
It is certainly cool, but is it cold?

And will it fit in a DeLorean?

If it is truly a working fusion reactor, one of the biggest game changers will be no radiation or radioactive waste. Everything else is gravy.

It would truly destroy mankind. Can you imagine the whole world prosperous, modernized and industrial. Oh don't get me wrong, it'll be good for a while...

It would be a rough start. The world fossil fuel economy would collapse. Wars would begin.

Same as usual, but worse for a bit.

They have committed massive R&D dollars and will look first to recoup and turn a profit on those dollars. Nothing will change overnight and they won't be a cheap alternative to fossil fuel for a very long time. Think along the lines of the big pharma model. People still die all over the world from diseases that we handle easily here with expensive drugs.

But can they squeeze it into a back back and let it fuel my energy beam Gatling gun?!

does it have a magnetic field when running strong enough to trap a T-X Terminator so you can get to the chopper?

LV-426. Just sayin'...

Our goals for work are due in a few days. I am currently working on mine. I work in IT, so I have stuff like, further my Python programming skills, close tickets in a timely manner, move soms Production apps to the Cloud, etc...

I can only imagine a goal...Get fusion reactor operational!

I hear Musk has an operational Arc Reactor coming out soon...

It’s applications are quantum. If only we could solve the puzzle of clean, cold fusion...

Ok, I read the article (can't say I understood it all), and I couldn't find anything that answered the major (IMO) concern with these: Can these be modified into weapons such as fusion bombs?

Currently, fusion bombs require an atomic fission bomb to create the intense heat and pressures to create a fusion reaction (in a hydrogen bomb, for example, a 20-40KT first stage atomic bomb would provide the 'kick' to drive the fusion reaction, that could yield multiple Megatons of destructive power). They have been trying to figure out how to make fusion bombs without the first stage atomic device for years, but (as far as I've read) haven't succeeded yet.

Could this sucker be used to make a quick and cheap fusion bomb? I'm assuming not, as they are intending these things for commercial use (from the sounds of it). I was just wondering if any physics dudes would have a dumbed-down explanation that I could understand. . .


It's a potential game-changer, though. It could be our big chance to negate a lot of the trouble that the Middle East has been causing us for the past 50 years. . .

Awesome.

Getting closer to heaven:

I want one.

Electricity will be too cheap to meter.

https://public-blog.nrc-gatewa...story-of-the-phrase/

If my memory serves me, we went from the Manhattan Project to dropping the first atomic bomb in about 5 years. That was fission.

We’ve been working on fusion for decades and the last I read, we could make a reaction last a minute.

I think we’re a long ways away.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
Our goals for work are due in a few days. I am currently working on mine. I work in IT, so I have stuff like, further my Python programming skills, close tickets in a timely manner, move soms Production apps to the Cloud, etc...

I can only imagine a goal...Get fusion reactor operational!

I can relate. That IS totally awesome to have in your goals.