Pyroelectric
Fusion
Tina Srivastava
22.012 Final Presentation
Agenda
• What is Pyroelectricity?
• Pyroelectric Materials
• Pyroelectric Fusion Today
• Pyroelectric Fusion for the
Future
Agenda
• What is Pyroelectricity?
• Pyroelectric Materials
• Pyroelectric Fusion Today
• Pyroelectric Fusion for the
Future
Pyro / electricity
Courtesy of the Building and Fire Research Laboratory. Courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Agenda
• What is Pyroelectricity?
• Pyroelectric Materials
• Pyroelectric Fusion Today
• Pyroelectric Fusion for the
Future
Pyroelectric Materials
Natural:
•Quartz, tourmaline, and
other ionic crystals
•Bone and tendon
Courtesy of the Department of Conservation.
Artificial:
•Gallium Nitride (GaN)
•Cesium Nitrate (CsNO3)
** Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO3) crystal Æ used in fusion **
Agenda
• What is Pyroelectricity?
• Pyroelectric Materials
• Pyroelectric Fusion Today
• Pyroelectric Fusion for the
Future
Courtesy of the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy. Used with permission.
Courtesy of the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy. Used with permission.
d + d + Ekin,rel Æ 3He (0.8 MeV) + n (2.45 MeV)
(Figure removed for copyright reasons.)
Courtesy of the UCLA Department
of Physics and Astronomy. Used
with permission.
Courtesy of the UCLA Department of Physics and
Astronomy. Used with permission.
Timeline
2002 – Idea Proposed (Naranjo and Putterman)
2004 – more in depth discussion (Brownridge and Shafroth)
2004 – use in neutron production (Geuther and Danon)
2005 – key ingredient Æ tungsten needle (Nature paper)
2005, April – Pyroelectric fusion demonstrated
(UCLA team headed by Brian Naranjo)
2006, February – confirmed and improved upon
(RPI team led by Jeffrey Geuther)
Agenda
• What is Pyroelectricity?
• Pyroelectric Materials
• Pyroelectric Fusion Today
• Pyroelectric Fusion for the
Future
So why is this useful?
"I believe that we could build an egg-sized
device…and by plunging it into ice and
warming it with your hands, you can
generate a reasonably large fusion signal."
(Putterman)
Conclusion
• Pyroelectric fusion is very new
(last 2 yrs)
• Pyroelectric effect
• D-D fusion
• Low energy generation, but
applications as a neutron emitter
Works Cited
• B. Naranjo and S. Putterman. Search for fusion from energy focusing
phenomena in ferroelectric crystals. UCLA Crystal Fusion.
http://rodan.physics.ucla.edu/pyrofusion/index.html
• Highfield, Roger. “Scientists put the Sun in our pockets.” Telegraph. April
28, 2005.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/28/wsun28
.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/04/28/ixworld.html
• “Pyroelectric Fusion.” Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyroelectric_fusion
• Schirber, Michael. “Palmtop Nuclear Fusion Device Invented.” Live Science.
Posted: 27 April 2005.
• “Table top fusion demonstrated.” BBC News. April 28, 2005.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4489821.stm
• “Table top nuclear fusion device developed.” February 13, 2006.
Physorg.com. http://www.physorg.com/news10806.html
