Part II: Design Criteria:  Problems And Solutions

B.  Ion Optics, Sharp Edges, Points, Cracks and Other Sources of Grief (continued)

    iv.  The Electrodes :  Solutions

Thermal discontinuities, like electrcal ones, are points of massive energy transport.  This being the case, dewars have to be polished smooth to prevent heat loss.  Furthermore, they are pumped down to vacuum, sealed and designed to remain that way for decades.  The solder spattered on the outer surface of the inner shell of this

dewar occured while de-soldering the hemispherical outer shell.  The vacuum, which was about 40 years old, was still good enough to suck the molten solder inside!  It is reasonable to suppose that this dewar can be adapted to replace both the bell jar and the anode, assuring better ion optics and vacuum performance.  The shells will probably be low temperature brazed back together.  This will allow for future disassembly and requires less flux with the copper shell.

This crimped and soldered "tit" was where the original dewar was pumped down, then sealed.

A very similar spherical dewar to the one "harvested" for the purpose of this experiment.  The inner diameter of the copper shell is 19&3/8", more than enough, allowing a breakdown voltage of 1kV/mm to assure that the 5" electrode currently used as the anode in the demo model, will have plenty of room for very high potential!

As far as the demo model goes, a new cathode was cast, using a lost wax procedure.  It is about, 87% transparent, still low, but within Miley's absolute minimum of 80% necessary to attain fusion.

 

The finished product in action above.

The 20 gauge wax wire grid on the sprue form, ready to be invested, burnt out, then induction cast.  The Cr-Co-Mo alloy has a melting point of about 1500 F, a disadvantage but one must get it hot enough to melt first.  T-304 stainless melts at only 1800 F anyway.