LPP Fusion’s President and Chief Scientist Eric Lerner reported on June 21 new record ion energies of over 260 keV (equivalent to a temperature of over 2.8 billion degrees K) to 150 plasma scientists assembled in Prague, Czech Republic for the 27th International Symposium on Plasma Physics and Technology. The new results, obtained with the Focus Fusion-1 (FF-1) plasma focus experimental device in Middlesex, NJ were a 50% advance over the previous record for a single shot, 170 keV, also achieved by FF-1 in 2011. Equally significantly, the mean ion energy for 10 shots at the same conditions also increased by 50% to 124 keV. Combined with other advances reported at the same conference these results mean that FF-1 now has achieved the ion energy needed to ignite hydrogen-boron fuel in an average shot, not just in the best shots.



Hydrogen-boron fuel is potentially the only route to achieving clean, safe and unlimited energy that is far cheaper than any existing energy sources. It releases its energy only at extremely high temperatures—more than 100 times those at the center of the sun. The plasma focus device used to achieve these temperatures is itself a very economical, compact device that can fit in a small room. LPPFusion refers to the use of hydrogen-boron fuel with the plasma focus as “Focus Fusion”. For a full explanation of this approach to fusion energy please visit the LPPFusion website , particularly here and here . For a comparison of FF-1 and other fusion devices, see here .)



In addition, Lerner reported that in the same 10 shots, the variability in fusion energy yield from shot to shot was only about 14%, a factor of four reduction over previous results with FF-1. Researchers were impressed with this result, as the plasma focus device has consistently been hindered by large shot-to shot variability, especially at high peak currents. Both mean and peak (best-shot) fusion energy yields were also 50% higher than in the best previously achieved with FF-1.



Lerner emphasized that these new results were possible only with the monolithic (one-piece) tungsten electrodes now used in the device in place of the previous multi-piece copper electrodes and with the glow-discharge preionization used in the May-June experiments. This preionization, caused by a tiny, several-microampere current flowing in advance of each shot, smoothes the path for the main million-ampere current, making the main current more symmetrical and reducing or eliminating the vaporization of the anode material. For more technical details on this new advance in fusion research, please go here .