WWW.LPPHYSICS.COM

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Checking Wikipedia we found:   Eric J. Lerner, in 1984, began studying plasma phenomena and laboratory fusion devices, performing experimental work on a machine called a dense plasma focus (DPF). Lerner received funding from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1994 and 2001 to explore whether the dense plasma focus could be an effective ion thruster to propel spacecraft. He believes that a dense plasma focus can also be used to produce useful aneutronic fusion energy. Lerner explained his “Focus Fusion” approach in a 2007 Google Tech Talk. On November 14, 2008, Lerner received funding for continued research, to test the scientific feasibility of Focus Fusion. On October 15, 2009, the DPF device “Focus Fusion-1″ achieved its first pinch. On January 28th, 2011, LPP published initial results including experimental shots with considerably higher fusion yields than the historical DPF trend. In March, 2012, the company announced that it had achieved temperatures of 1.8 billion degrees, beating the old record of 1.1 billion that had survived since 1978.

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On October 12th I learned as follows:

Hydrogen and Boron, when used as a fusion fuel are aneutronic – that means they fuse to release only charged particles – but no neutrons – and thus lowers the cost of this operation when compared to methods that use deuterium or tritium.

LPP originated and patented a Focus Fusion controlled release device for dense plasma that does not release radioactive by-products. Their Focus Fusion -1 (Fo-Fu -1) (FF-1) devise was completed in October 2009 in Middlessex NJ and now regularly achieves many billions of fusion reactions within the few microseconds of a single experimental shot.

The unit generator they envision will be a garage-size generator that will provide energy to 1,000 homes and many of these can be combined if the intent is to have a larger energy plant. The initial 5MW green and low-cost Focus Fusion unit can be up-scaled to provide gigawatt-scale power. The electrode at the heart of FF-1 is just five inches across. To continue the demonstration work – all what the company was reaching out for at this time was $2 million.

The people that represented LPP at the breakfast were:

Eric J. Lerner, President and Chief Scientist – the originator of the concept,

Derek Shanon, Director of Business Development,

Sam Salamay, Senior Consultant in Public Relation mattes.

The address of LPP is 128 Lincoln Blvd.
Middlesex, NJ  08846-1022

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The advantages of FF-1:

to replicate it costs $ half a million; there is huge reduction in costs compared to other proposed fusion equipment.
it is small in size;
provides direct conversion of fusion – turn the energy into electricity.

The idea was started in the 60′s and by now there is a rich literature and dozens of research groups worldwide – but Lerner credits the Tehran University as the other most advanced group. His own lab experiments were started in 2009. He has US patent #7,482,607 with patents pending in Australia, China, India and Europe.

Asked what holds back the project – his answer was that too few people have plasma experience and immigration problems make it difficult bringing in to the US non US citizens. Financially they are fine now having obtained $2.7 million from the Abell Foundation and they have 40 investors.

He also said that the profit is not in the mailing of the equipment but in the savings when consuming the energy, as such it is possible to contemplate an equipment rental structure and a service agreement as it would be effective to run the equipment from a distance.

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Looking at the potential of this concept – (a) we see immediately that it is an answer to the UN concept of SE4All – Sustainable Energy for All.
That is cheap and affordable energy for all – that is neither polluting with CO2 emissions, nor with potential radiation. The latter removes any need for dangerous nuclear fission that had the unintended additional track of nuclear bombs’ production. Also the replacement of dependence on fossil fuels can help us save the environment for future generations while avoiding the side effects of climate change.

Above seems obvious – but what may be its best selling point is that Iranian scientists at the University of Tehran are the most advanced foreigners in his technology and if a cooperation between them, as led by the Iranian government, and the US government stands behind the LPP scientists – be they dealing as a private company or as a National Laboratory, this mutually respectful relationship will also help Iran climb down the tree of discord with the US. Let us hope that after the Presidential elections, the winning US President will see to it that this opportunity to work together with Iran is not squandered.

This latter idea that I discussed with the LPP team after the presentation last week, becomes even more enticing considering the information that became available this week-end – the weekend ahead of the last US Presidential Debate, that there are ongoing US – Iran contacts in an attempt to find a solution to the nuclear crisis, and as well – having listened on Friday to the presentation of Judge Abraham D. Sofaer on an Effective Diplomacy to tackle the issue – the cooperation between the two countries in order to commercialize nuclear fusion seems like an ideal way out in this more intricate topic. This latter subject we posted as well on our website.