polywell

The polywell is a proposed design for a fusion reactor using an electric and magnetic field to heat ions to fusion conditions.

Key facts

Company.name: Energy Matter Conversion Corporation (EMC2)
Company.industry: fusion power
Company.predecessor: Directed Technologies
Company.founders: Robert W. Bussard
Company.hq_location_city: San Diego, California
Company.hq_location_country: United States
Company.num_employees: 5
Company.num_employees_year: 2025

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Commons category: Polywell

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~36 min read

Article

51 sections

Contents

Mechanism
Fusor heating
Diamagnetic plasma trapping
Other trapping mechanisms
Magnetic mirror
Cusp confinement
Beta in magnetic traps
Design
Other behavior
Single-electron motion
Plasma recirculation
Models of energy distribution
Considerations for net power
Fuel type
Lawson criterion
Criticism
Rider critique
Energy capture
History
HEPS
EMC2, Inc.
WB-6
Efforts to restart funding
Bridge funding 2007–2009
Reassembling team
WB-7
2008
2009 to 2014
2009
2010
2011
2012
Going public
2014
2015
2016
2018
University of Sydney experiments
Related projects
Prometheus Fusion Perfection
University of Sydney
Iranian Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute
University of Wisconsin
Convergent Scientific, Inc.
Radiant Matter Research
ProtonBoron
Progressive Fusion Solutions
Fusion One Corporation
See also
References
External links

The polywell is a proposed design for a fusion reactor using an electric and magnetic field to heat ions to fusion conditions.

The design is related to the fusor, the high beta fusion reactor, the magnetic mirror, and the biconic cusp. A set of electromagnets generates a magnetic field that traps electrons. This creates a negative voltage, which attracts positive ions. As the ions accelerate towards the negative center, their kinetic energy rises. Ions that collide at high enough energies can fuse.