Reader Post: Fusion – God’s Choice For Energy

The author (right) with Dr. Gerald Schroeder  overlooking the Kotel and old city
The author (right) with Dr. Gerald Schroeder overlooking the Kotel and old city

Gerald Schroeder, Ph.D., MIT in nuclear physics and earth science writes:

“The Jerusalem Translation of the opening line in Bereshit Genesis, ca 100 CE is “With wisdom God created the heavens and the earth.”  NOT In the beginning God created …    Nahmanides quotes this and calls it a great and deep secret.”

The ancient biblical commentator Rabbi Moses ben Nahman Girondi Girondi ca Porta, or Nahmanides, accounted for the creation of the universe as follows:

“At the briefest instant following creation all the matter of the universe was concentrated in a very small place, no larger than a grain of mustard. The matter at this time was so thin, so intangible, that it did not have real substance. It did have, however, a potential to gain substance and form and to become tangible matter. From the initial concentration of this intangible substance in its minute location, the substance expanded, expanding the universe as it did so. As the expansion progressed, a change in the substance occurred. This initially thin noncorporeal substance took on the tangible aspects of matter as we know it. From this initial act of creation, from this ethereally thin pseudosubstance, everything that has existed, or will ever exist, was, is, and will be formed.”

Dr. Schroeder notes:

“Nahmanides’s reference to a grain of mustard is the traditional way of saying, “In the language of man,” the tiniest imaginable speck of space. Nahmanides taught that at the beginning, all that is on and within the Earth and all the heavens, in fact the entire universe, was somehow packed, compressed, squeezed into this speck of space, the size of a mustard grain.”…  Nearly 800 years later modern scientists take credit for proposing what Nahmanides clearly articulated.”

Another ancient Jewish commentator, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki known today as Rashi, ca 1090, tells us that to understand Genesis 1:1 we need to go to Proverbs 8. There verse 12 states “I am wisdom.” The Proverb is written in first person. Wisdom is speaking here. Then verse 23 and after “God made me [wisdom] as the first of His works..” Wisdom is the substance of the entire creation of the universe.

Fast forward to our need to solve energy. The Earth is part of a finely tuned universe and is a uniquely fine-tuned planet. This “fine tuning” has created conditions for the formation and development of life on Earth evolving over billions of years. Mankind, through the attribute of intelligence and his ability to reason, is set apart from all other forms of life. Man controls his life apart from his surroundings whereas all other forms of life adapt to their surroundings and are controlled by them. Fundamental to man’s ability to control his life is access to energy.

The ancient commentator Rashi noted that God gave man dominion over the earth but in order for man to responsibly exercise his dominion he must understand how things work. We do that by understanding science and its universal language, mathematics.

As the worldwide human population is increased so is the fundamental demand for energy. Energy is required in agriculture. Energy is required to produce and transport potable water. Energy is required to transport humans and for the production of virtually all goods produced by humans. And energy is required to provide for man’s comfort given the variations in the Earth’s temperature and weather conditions daily, and seasonally.

Through the act of creation during the “big bang” the Earth now has three sources of energy resulting from two fundamental scientific processes. These processes are atomic in nature.

Firstly, the Earth is unique in having life as we know it powered through photosynthesis from energy produced by the Sun. This energy within the Sun is provided by the fusion of hydrogen into helium and the associated release of energy. The Earth is like an organic battery having been charged by the Sun for over 500 million years and converted to fossil fuels like petroleum, natural, gas and coal.

Secondly, the Earth is unique given the large amounts of fissionable heavy elements occurring in nature such as Uranium and Thorium. These heavy elements are very rare in our universe which consists of 99% hydrogen and helium.

Thirdly, the Earth is unique given the large amount of deuterons on the Earth in the form of heavy hydrogen. Whereas in the universe, approximately 2 in one hundred thousand hydrogen atoms are deuterons; the ratio on the Earth is one hydrogen atom in 5,500. The Pacific Ocean alone contains over 10 to the 46th power hydrogen atoms. Over 10 to the 42nd power are deuterons.

Third Source and 3rd Choice

Energy produced by chemical reactions which generate heat by “burning” hydrocarbon fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were created through photosynthesis in combination with the processes of plant and animal life from the energy provided by the Sun over the last 300 million years of the Earth’s existence. Over a 300 year period, man will have depleted usable fossil fuel reserves. During this time, man must use his intelligence and reasoning abilities to master the second and first choice of energies as these fossil fuels are finite and cannot be replaced or reproduced.

Second Source and 2nd Choice.

Energy produced by the atomic reaction of splitting heavy elements such as uranium, element 92, isotope 235, or thorium element number 90, isotope 232. Thorium 232 is relatively abundant on Earth. Uranium 235 is far less abundant. It is estimated that there is enough useable thorium 232 on the Earth to provide the energy consumed by the United States for the next 1,000 years based on current energy use.

However, the splitting apart of elements in a man induced atomic reaction through the assembly of a critical mass of heavy fissionable atoms is contrary to nature, and the formation of the universe and all matter in it, from the Creation or big bang event.

The splitting of atoms results in many problems such as nuclear radiation, long term dangerous radioactive waste, possible explosive chain reactions, melt downs of fuel cores, and basic fissile fuel sources having military uses in weapons and the related threats.

First Source and G-d’s Choice.

Energy produced by the process of nuclear fusion wherein two light element atoms are fused into a slightly heavier atom along with a corresponding large release of energy. An example is the well-known and well understood fusion reaction of D (Hydrogen 2) + T (Hydrogen 3) > He (Helium) + 17.6 mev (energy units) + n (neutron.) This is the fundamental process resulting from the big bang or creation event. This is also the fundamental process of the Sun. The Earth has enough heavy Hydrogen or deuterium to power the entire world’s energy needs literally for eternity.  Controlled nuclear fusion is God’s first choice for energy because:

  • It is the epitome of God’s wisdom as he created the Creation.
  • It follows the laws of the creation of the universe.
  • It has none of the negative aspects associated with fission or the splitting of atoms.
  • It is virtually an unlimited source of inexpensive power capable of supplying 100% of the Earth’s annual energy requirements.

Fusion is more difficult to accomplish than fission. Fusion is a creation process whereas fission is a destruction process. In fission, once a critical mass of heavy element fissionable material is assembled, it destroys itself and decays into highly radioactive elements of lower atomic mass. Fusion, on the other hand, requires energy to be pumped into the system to a point where the net energy gain resulting from the bringing together of light atoms is considerably greater than the energy pumped in.

And so it is with human relationships and the relationships of countries. It is much more difficult to build than to destroy. It is noteworthy that fission and fusion are both atomic process but polar opposites in how they work and what they produce. Fission was developed in a time of war as a necessary means to end a war responsible for the deaths of close to 40 million people worldwide.

Fusion will be developed when people and countries come together to cooperate and build. Reverting back to God given wisdom and Dr. Schroeder, I note his article on the Nefesh and Neshamah.  Animals and humans were given different natures; in Hebrew “Nefesh” and “Neshamah.” Nefesh is the animal instinct toward survival, comfort and reproduction. Neshamah is the higher nature, a reflection of God Himself that sees the bigger picture and realizes how interconnected – and interdependent – we all are. Actually, we humans have both natures, often in conflict with each other.

The current conflict in Israel is a prime example. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu noted many times the difference between the Israelis and those trying to destroy them. Israel protects its citizens with patriot missiles while those in Gaza protect their rockets using their citizens as shields.

I have proposed to Prime Minister Netanyahu in a letter dated July 13, 2014 that a project be initiated in Israel, funded by the private sector, and participated in by Israelis and Americans to quickly develop fusion power as Israel’s gift to the world. This needs to be 100% open and public. The entire world must know. My letter to the Prime Minister is posted on our web site for public view in English and Hebrew; click here and scroll down to “Correspondence with World Leaders:”

As explained in the recent Inquisitir Q&A interview, this is a lengthy process because much experimental science needs to be conducted followed by application and materials engineering leading to commercialization. Clearly we can demonstrate a positive net energy gain within a decade. It may take another decade to build a commercial fusion power plant. A further decade will be required to deploy and replace aged infrastructure around the world.

I have laid this out in a web site dedicated to this goal. It starts with a “Proclamation to the World by the American and Israeli People.” That proclamation is posted in English, Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and Spanish here.

Time is of the essence. If we do not pull together and do this now, billions of lives will be lost over the next hundred years because we simply do not have sufficient reserves of energy to support a worldwide population of close to 9 billion people much beyond the middle of this century. This is where the emphasis needs to be placed. The issue of anthropogenic global warming may be a trick God is playing on man’s mind. Israel can stand strong and allow the emphasis to be placed on the real issue. We have posted an article titled “The Battle of the Century” describing who this trick or joke is played on.

10 thoughts on “Reader Post: Fusion – God’s Choice For Energy”

  1. Norman_In_New_York

    There is one major drawback to nuclear fusion. We think of sunlight as safe and clean, but that is only because the Earth’s ionosphere filters out radiation that would otherwise be lethal to life. You can call this a miracle of creation, but were we to harness fusion, we would have to come up with a way to do the ionosphere’s job, as well as contain and neutralize any equivalents of solar storms that might arise.

    1. When we say create fusion, we don’t mean “create the sun”. The sun just so happens to use fusion but for its immense mass it’s not replicable on Earth. There are other ways to achieve fusion, and cold fusion alone isn’t harmful.

      1. Norman_In_New_York

        I am not objecting to fusion, only pointing problems that need to be overcome through maximum safeguards.

        1. Norman_In-New_York, In my humble opinion fusion can not be controlled by any one company. There have been many such as General Fusion, Tri alpha, EMC2 Corp, Martin Lockheed, General atomic and even oil companies in the past such as Phillips Petroleum and Gulf oil (who at one time owned General Atomic) and others that have tried. However fusion is the long term solution to mankind’s existence. There is no other realistic energy solution (matter anti-matter annihilation reactions are the holy grail of mass to energy conversion but that is a dream on Earth today.) He who control’s energy controls the world. For this reason I am advocating that 1, the people must know about fusion and on a grass roots basis support it and share in it, 2, a consortium of industries in the U.S. and Israel participate in the development cycle and have shared IP rights, and, 3, the management must be transparent, open, corruption free and established for world good, but the IP and scientific knowhow must reside in America and Israel. In my opinion the VC backed groups like General Fusion will fail. Why? Because they want to control mankind’s destiny. That is immoral and contrary to man’s destiny (according to G-d guidence) & Israel’s purpose. And since I have stressed Israel, lets elaborate a bit.

          Chasidic Tanya teaches us that Israel is not a
          state or geographic location per se, but rather the collection of all Jews (Jacob) throughout the world. When one
          country outside Israel has the majority of the world wide Jewish population, that country assumes the responsibilities and accountabilities of Israel as set forth by G-d and handed down to the Israelites at Sinai. Today, that country
          is the United States of America as our Jewish population is ever so slightly greater than the State of Israel.
          This is the root of America’s unshakeable bond with the State of Israel, the first flowering of our redemption.

          It is critical that America and the State of Israel come together in partnership and address the correct solving of
          energy through the commercial development and deployment of controlled fusion. As Warren Buffet says, Israel is home to intellectual energy, brains, and integrity.
          Israel is also home to many of the best physicists, mathematicians and applied materials engineers
          in the world, second only to the United States. Many years ago Israel Minister of Science, Professor Yuval Ne’eman, called for Israel to commercialize controlled nuclear
          fusion as the only guaranteed measure to insure its safety and preeminence in the Middle East, as well as the best means to solve its energy needs as a country isolated from its neighbors. Unfortunately the State of Israel did not have the capital resources at the time to embark on this ambitious plan alone.

          1. Norman_In_New_York

            Dr. Tamarkin, my brief message was not about who controls the development, only the engineering necessary to keep the process safe. I feel it can be worked out, but with the exercise of due care, since we are only human and make mistakes once in a while.

            1. Thank you for your comment and concern. As in any industrial and energy generation process safety is a primary concern. Happily the basic process of fusion is extremely safe and because it requires input energy in a closed feedback loop. it is inherently fail safe. Fusion produces no direct radioactivity, per se. But again all manner of accidents happen and safety must be designed in from the beginning.

      2. Cold fusion does not exist. By definition fusion requires very high temperatures in excess of several hundred million degrees C. “Cold Fusion” originated from Fleischman and Pons at the University of Utah and was immediately disproved. Both scientists moved out of the U.S. in disgrace. Other labs including the Naval Research Laboratory have spent tens of millions USD investigating what is now called LENR and again the results have been negative. There simply is no such thing as “cold fusion.” Andrew Rossi in Italy uses the term eCAT and Rossi has all but been proven a fraudster.

    1. The sweet spot in fusion parameter space may be mid way between Magnetic tokomak and laser driven inertial and is represented by magnetized target based on the works of Lindemuth, Theo, Siemon, Hsu, et al. This simplifies reactor design and related costs by up to an order of magnitude (Lindemuth, et al.) See: Development of Practical Fusion Power
      Plasma Jet Driven Magneto Inertial Fusion, Tamarkin, et al http://www.usclcorp.com/news/energy-docs/Practical%20Fusion%20Power%20Tamarkin%20et%20al.pdf

  2. Couple of quick comments. Firstly please see the extensive web site I have set up at http://www.fusion4freedom.us. Go to Science section. Learn the difference between laser driven inertial and magnetic tokomak and more importantly check out the Innovative Confinement and Alternative Approaches section. The sweet spot for fusion parameter in controlled environments is mid way between these extremes. Note the paper on PJMIF. I am a major author of that paper and the first four sections are assessable by non-practicing scientists. There is no such thing as “cold fusion.” Period. End of discussion. By definition fusion requires plasma state and temperatures in excess of several hundred million degrees C. The comment about fusion and the fact that the ionosphere and lower atmosphere filters out certain wavelengths of EMS is true. However fusion in a reactor, per se, does not generate radioactivity (only indirectly due to neutron bombardment of materials exposed in the containment apparatus…that will be addresses by several means including a migration towards aneutronic fusion in the fusion using Boron proton reaction as an example.) There are no drawbacks to fusion other than the fact we must invest in the continued science and applied engineering to prove it and then commercialize it. Again, please look at our web site at http://www.fision4freedom.us. Note the comprehensive articles I have written on the politics, mismanagement (8 with Pat Boone) and see the complete science section. Further questions may be directed to me at [email protected]. Regards, Tom Tamarkin

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