Submission + - Video released of new "FoFu-1" reliability tests (youtube.com)
DerekShannon writes: Flipping a few switches might not seem like a big deal, but when you're researching fusion energy it can be cause for celebration — Or agonizing frustration. For the Lawrenceville Plasma Physics (LPPpower.com) "Focus Fusion-1" device, an array of high voltage spark-gap switches must fire within tens of nanoseconds to reach the parameters predicted to achieve net fusion energy. Progress has been slowed for months by switches firing too early or not at all. On September 29th, the team tested a simple change in hopes of improved reliability. The Focus Fusion Society (focusfusion.org) has released video of that experiment that also shows how the device will operate during upcoming net energy tests. Even when aiming for a big breakthrough, science tends to advance in very small steps!