DARPA financira razvoj nove svemirske baterije i f

Mislim da se u čitavom članku brka fisija i fuzija. Inače, nema smisla.

Šta vi momci još niste ćuli za Orbitrek fuzijske reaktore? 

Šalu nastranu , čini mi se da se radi o nekakvom kompliciranijem fuzoru, dakle u principu uređaju na bazi katodne cijevi za proizvodnju neutrona, koji posredno proizvodi radioizotope koji emitiraju alfa-čestice (koje nekim čudom spadaju pod ionizirajuće zračenje), koji bi se onda koristili poput betavoltaičkih baterija.
Jedan od onih magičnih "zero-point energy" uređaja iz polumračnih podrumskih laboratorija, zelenkasto ili plavičasto zračećih lampi s gomilama zavojnica, žica i elektroda koje se često predstavlja na nekim crackpot stranicama kao revolucionarno nove oblike energije u razvoju.


The Orbitron is a small compact plasma device that confines high-energy ions electrostatically in orbits around a cathode, as is the case in an Orbitrap, while confining electrons in an E×B weak magnetic field, like a Magnetron. The confined electrons mitigate electrostatic ion space-charge density constraints, enabling a high density of ions orbiting with trajectories and energies sufficient for ion-ion fusion. Orbitrons employ ``crossed-fields'', similar to relativistic microwave devices, and co-rotating ions and electrons to achieve high plasma energy, density and long energy confinement times. They combine aspects of particle accelerators, electrostatic ion traps, relativistic magnetrons, rotating centrifugal mirror plasmas and have the potential to be small compact bright neutron sources (>1E13 n/s) and possibly even net-energy fusion devices that could be operated in a small lab. We are currently investigating the science of Orbitron plasma devices and how they scale in terms of neutron flux and power balance with different fusion fuels. This talk will give a high-level overview of the various theoretical, simulation and experimental work that is ongoing along with a discussion of the current status and next steps.
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023APS..DPPYO8010L/abstract

Trials with deuterium successfully demonstrated the generation of neutrons. Avalanche Energy recently announced that they were able to maintain 300 kV on their reactor for several hours. This equates to 6MV/m, an important milestone that is considered one of the keys for further progress. While fusion energy is the ultimate goal, neutrons present a near-term path for revenue. A large number of neutrons can be generated at the higher voltage densities, and these have uses in the creation of radioisotopes, non-destructive inspections of objects such as turbine blades and fuel tanks, and also as a means for fusion testing. Once a self-sustained fusion reaction is achieved, individual Orbitron units are expected to deliver power outputs in the 1-100kWe range. A stack of them could be used to produce MW-scale power.

A key application where such power would be useful is in hostile environments that do not have access to grid energy. Examples of these include underwater vehicles and robot ships, isolated regions of the Earth such as the Arctic, and spacecraft.
https://www.powerelectronicsnews.com/small-fusion-reactor-energy-sources-for-challenging-environments/

Ako sam sve skupa dobro shvatio, spomenuta firma je napravila jedan takav prijenosni generator neutrona koji navodno uspijeva održavati energetski probitačan proces kroz nekoliko sati, što je opet navodno dovoljno za stvaranje alfa-voltaičkih baterija (za razliku od beta-voltaičkih koje se već odavno koriste u nekim specijalnim uvjetima i uređajima poput kirurški ugrađenih srčanih pacemakera i sovjetskih arktičkih nuklearnih svjetionika ) koje bi trajale na mnogo duži rok u ekstremnim polarnim uvjetima ili na međuplanetarnim putovanjima.
DARPA definitivno nije neka diletantsko-šarlatanska firma, i ako oni tu vide neki potencijal, vjerojatno ga zbilja ima.