Horace Heffner wrote:
>
> Energetically effective fusion created using electron beams I think is or would be essentially
> electron catalysed fusion. This requires a minimum beam intensity of
> 1x10^19 electrons/(cm^2*s),
> electron catalysed fusion. This requires a minimum beam intensity of
> 1x10^19 electrons/(cm^2*s),
>
Commercially available Electron Beam Welders can put 3.10e-18 electrons per second
into a weld piece with a 150 Kev - 0.4 millimeter diameter beam .
>
> but I think improves with increased intensity.
> Achieving a fast, dense, and high energy electron flux imposed on
> inertially confined hydrogen might best be done using x-rays, however.
> Achieving a fast, dense, and high energy electron flux imposed on
> inertially confined hydrogen might best be done using x-rays, however.
>
The problem with generating x-rays with electrons, is the low generation efficiency:
X-ray yield (%) = 1.216e-7 * Z * Volts (about 1% efficiency for tungsten, Z = 74)
Also collimating them is a bit of a problem as they are finding out with laser-generated x-rays.
At these energies the x-rays undergo the Compton (Scattering) Effect giving up to 1/3 their
energy to the electrons (about 60 Kev max.with 200 Kev x-ray photons).
Frederick
