Dense Plasma Focus Fusion - Why is this Bullcrap?

Question

OK, I've been fascinated for months by Eric Lerner's Focus Fusion proposals, but I have a nagging feeling that his status as an anti-Big Bang "crackpot" and a vain self-promoter mean that his credentials and therefore his plan are highly flawed.

I don't know enough physics to fully critique the overall design, but I can't find any obvious problems. So here are the links to the site and the white papers that I hope will be enough for someone with a Physics background to comment on.

http://www.focusfusion.org
http://www.physicsessays.com/doc/s2005/Lerner_Transparencies.pdf
http://lawrencevilleplasmaphysics.com/PROSPECTS_FOR_P11B_FUSION.htm

Answer 1

I guess you could say he's sort of a crack-pot, but in an endearing sort of way. He's not stupid, has published in respected refereed journals, and is deserving of some consideration. That said, his plasma focus plasma plasmoid theory is not generally taken seriously by other plasma physicists. It appears, at first blush, to be a misinterpretation of data regarding "hot spots" observed in plasma focus and low energy z-pinch devices. The broad consensus is that such spots are due to a high energy ion beam interacting with the compressed end-state of a pinch instability called a "sausage" or m=0 instability. This process would be far from equilibrium. Lerner, however, seems to interpret the data in the context of a thermodynamic equilibrium assumption, which leads to the conclusion that exciting things are happening.

My advice, is that if, as you say, you don't know enough about physics to fully critique his analysis *personally*, then keep an open mind, even if well established professionals in the field insist otherwise. Well established professionals in the field have been know to be wrong on occasion. If his work intrigues you, then take it upon yourself to learn enough about physics to judge it for yourself. Your time will not be wasted.

Answer 2

definite the extreme volume of power mandatory to truly create a plasma and sustain it in regardless of weapon ur questioning of till chilly fusion turns into pausible i dont think of we could have the skill to play with authentic lightsabers lol