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LPPFusion is developing a source of fusion energy using the dense plasma focus device and p-B11 fuel, a combination we call Focus Fusion. So far, this project has led to the achievement of the highest confined ion energies of any fusion experiment (> 200 keV) as well as, recently, the lowest impurities of any fusion plasma. Among privately-funded fusion efforts, our experiments have achieved the highest ratio of fusion energy generation to device energy input (wall-plug efficiency) and the highest nτT product of 3.4 × 1020 keV-s/m3. Our calculations and simulations indicate that the quantum magnetic field effect will allow a great reduction in bremsstrahlung radiation with p-B11 fuel. For commercial fusion, this approach has several major advantages. The small size and simplicity of design of the DPF can lead to 5 MW generators that are much cheaper than any existing energy source, that can be manufactured by mass production and that can be located close to loads. It shares with other p-B11 approaches a lack of neutron damage and radioactive waste. Direct energy conversion of the ion beam and x-rays produced by the device avoids the high costs associated with thermal cycles. With adequate, but still modest, financial resources we anticipate working prototype generators could be ready for production by 2026–2030.

LPPFusion is developing a source of fusion energy using the dense plasma focus device and pB11 fuel, a combination we call Focus Fusion. So far, this project has led to the achievement of the highest confined ion energies of any fusion experiment (> 200 keV) as well as, recently, the lowest impurities of any fusion plasma. Among privately-funded fusion efforts, our experiments have achieved the highest ratio of fusion energy generation to device energy input (wall-plug efficiency) and the highest ntT product of 3.4x1020 keV-s/cm3. Our calculations and simulations indicate that the quantum magnetic field effect will allow a great reduction in bremsstrahlung radiation with pB11 fuel. For commercial fusion, this approach has several major advantages. The small size and simplicity of design of the DPF can lead to 5MW generators that are much cheaper than any existing energy source, that can be manufactured by mass production and that can be located close to loads. It shares with other pB11 approaches a lack of neutron damage and radioactive waste. Direct energy conversion of the ion beam and x-rays produced by the device avoids the high costs associated with thermal cycles. With adequate, but still modest, financial resources we anticipate working prototype generators could be ready for production by 2026–2030.

In a non-expanding universe surface brightness is independent of distance or redshift, while in an expanding universe it decreases rapidly with both. Similarly, for objects of the same luminosity, the angular radius of an object in a non-expanding universe declines with redshift, while in an expanding universe this radius increases for redshifts z>1.25. The author and colleagues have previously shown that data for the surface brightness of disk galaxies are compatible with a static universe with redshift linearly proportional to distance at all z (SEU hypothesis). In this paper we examine the more conventional hypothesis that the universe is expanding, but that the actual radii of galaxies of a given luminosity increase with time (decrease with z), as others have proposed. We show that the radii data for both disk and elliptical galaxies are incompatible with any of the published size-evolution predictions based on an expanding universe. We find that all the physical mechanisms proposed for size evolution, such as galaxy mergers, lead to predictions that are in quantitative contradiction with either the radius data or other data sets, such as the observed rate of galaxy mergers. In addition, we find that when the effect of telescope resolution is taken into account, the r-z relationships for disk and elliptical galaxies are identical. Both are excellently fit by SEU predictions. An overall comparison of cosmological models requires examining all available data-sets, but for this data-set there is a clear contradiction of predictions based on an expanding universe hypothesis., 21 pages, 8 figures, published version

Despite its great popularity, the Big Bang framework for cosmology faces growing contradictions with observation. The Big Bang theory requires three hypothetical entities-the inflation field, nonbaryonic (dark) matter, and the dark energy field-to overcome gross contradictions of theory and observation. Yet, no evidence has ever confirmed the existence of any of these three hypothetical entities. The predictions of the theory for the abundance of /sup 4/He, /sup 7/Li, and D are more than 7/spl sigma/ from the data for any assumed density of baryons and the probability of the theory fitting the data is less than 10/sup -14/. Observations of voids in the distribution of galaxies that are in excess of 100 Mpc in diameter, combined with observed low streaming velocities of galaxies, imply an age for these structure that is at least triple and more likely six times the hypothesized time since the Big Bang. Big Bang predictions for the anisotropy of the microwave background, which now involve seven or more free parameters, still are excluded by the data at the 2/spl sigma/ level. The observed preferred direction in the background anisotropy completely contradicts Big Bang assumptions. In contrast, the predictions of plasma cosmology have been strengthened by new observations, including evidence for the stellar origin of the light elements, the plasma origin of large-scale structures, and the origin of the cosmic microwave background in a "radio fog" of dense plasma filaments. This review of the evidence shows that the time has come, and indeed has long since come, to abandon the Big Bang as the primary model of cosmology.

Dense, force-free magnetic filaments generated by quasars, active galactic nuclei, and Herbig-Haro objects can remain stable in the intergalactic medium for many Gy. They will be opaque to radiation with wavelengths longer than 100-400 mu m, and essentially transparent to shorter wavelengths. They are thus capable of thermalizing and isotropizing the cosmic background radiation, and of accounting for the observed decrease of radio luminosity of galaxies within increasing distance from the Earth. >

A non-Big-Bang plasma model is used to predict the submillimeter spectrum of the cosmic background radiation (CBR). Early intermediate-mass stars heat dust which, in turn, warms electrons trapped in force-free filaments emitted by galactic nuclei. Current stars contribute further heating by the same synchrotron mechanism. The electrons emit a nonblackbody radiation which matches the observed CBR spectrum and isotropy. The model also predicts intergalactic absorption of radio radiation, as confirmed by observations of spiral galaxies, and accurately predicts the spectrum of radio-quiet sources. >

The optical properties of a number of supercompact ultraviolet luminous galaxies (UVLG), recently discovered in the local Universe matching GALEX and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data, are discussed. Detailed re-analysis of the SDSS data for these and other similar but nearer galaxies shows that their surface brightness radial profile in both R and u bands is in most cases well described by an extended disk plus a central unresolved component (possibly a bulge). Since the SDSS pipeline used a single disk component to derive the half light radius of these UVLGs their size was severely underestimated. Consequently, the average UV surface brightness is much lower that previously quoted casting doubts on the claim that UVLGs are the local analogs of high redshift Lyman break galaxies., Comment: Accepted for publication on the Astrophysical Journal, 10 pages, 5 figures

Surface brightness data can distinguish between a Friedman-Robertson-Walker expanding universe and a non-expanding universe. For surface brightness measured in AB magnitudes per angular area, all FRW models, regardless of cosmological parameters, predict that surface brightness declines with redshift as (z+1)^-3, while any non-expanding model predicts that surface brightness is constant with distance and thus with z. High-z UV surface brightness data for galaxies from the Hubble Ultra Deep Field and low-z data from GALEX are used to test the predictions of these two models up to z=6. A preliminary analysis presented here of samples observed at the same at-galaxy wavelengths in the UV shows that surface brightness is constant, mu=kz^0.026+-0.15, consistent with the non-expanding model. This relationship holds if distance is linearly proportional to z at all redshifts, but seems insensitive to the particular choice of d-z relationship. Attempts to reconcile the data with FRW predictions by assuming that high-z galaxies have intrinsically higher surface brightness than low-z galaxies appear to face insurmountable problems. The intrinsic FUV surface brightness required by the FRW models for high-z galaxies exceeds the maximum FUV surface brightness of any low-z galaxy by as much as a factor of 40. Dust absorption appears to make such extremely high intrinsic FUV surface brightness physically impossible. If confirmed by further analysis, the impossibility of such high-surface-brightness galaxies would rule out all FRW expanding universe (big bang) models., Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, to be published in the Proceedings of the First Crisis in Cosmology Conference, AIP proceedings series typos corrected

The Tolman test for surface brightness dimming was originally proposed as a test for the expansion of the Universe. The test, which is independent of the details of the assumed cosmology,is based on comparisons of the surface brightness (SB) of identical objects at different cosmological distances. Claims have been made that the Tolman test provides compelling evidence against a static model for the Universe. In this paper we reconsider this subject by adopting a static Euclidean Universe with a linear Hubble relation at all z (which is not the standard Einstein- de Sitter model),resulting in a relation between flux and luminosity that is virtually indistinguishable from the one used for LCDM models. Based on the analysis of the UV surface brightness of luminous disk galaxies from HUDF and GALEX datasets, reaching from the local Universe to z ~ 5 we show that the surface brightness remains constant as expected in a SEU. A re-analysis of previously-published data used for the Tolman test at lower redshift, when treated within the same framework, confirms the results of the present analysis by extending our claim to elliptical galaxies. We conclude that available observations of galactic SB are consistent with a static Euclidean model of the Universe. We do not claim that the consistency of the adopted model with SB data is sufficient by itself to confirm what would be a radical transformation in our understanding of the cosmos. However, we believe this result is more than sufficient reason to examine further this combination of hypotheses., 27 pages, 9 figures

The IR-radio correlation for spiral galaxies has been used to measure the absorption of 1.49-GHz radiation by the intergalactic medium. Contrary to conventional expectation, a sample of 237 galaxies shows a strong inverse correlation of radio luminosity (at a given IR luminosity) with distance, Lr = about D exp -0.4, over a range of distances from 0.7-55 Mpc. Strong absorption by the intergalactic medium is the only reasonable explanation of this correlation, which is statistically significant at the 2 x 10 to the -12th level. 12 refs.

A cosmological model is presented that produces He, C, O, D, Li, Be, and B in their observed abundances without a Big Bang. The elements are produced during the 1.5-Gy formation period of a galaxy, with C, O, and other heavy elements produced by stars of M>12 M/sub 3/, He by stars of 6 M/sub s/ >

A model of quasars and radio galaxies and their associated jets is further elaborated here. The model, presented in Part I of this paper, is based on magnetic selfcompression as the process involved in producing extremely high energy densities. In the present paper, the results derived in Part I are used to predict radiation spectra from quasars, and to extend the model to radio galaxies. The role of magnetic self-compression of magnetic vortices in the origin of filamentary superclusters of galaxies is briefly discussed.

The design of a reliable system begins with the earliest feasibility studies and continues through final production blueprints. An initial electronic system design has only 10 to 30 percent of the reliability (mean time between failures ? MTBF) of the final product. To increase this, design engineers undertake a repetitive design cycle, modeling reliability, testing predictions in the laboratory, and isolating areas that need improvement and redesigning them. This process is called ?reliability growth? and must be carefully planned in order to achieve acceptable reliability by the time the product is ready for production.

A plasma model of the origin of the light elements and the microwave background is presented. In contrast to the conventional Big Bang hypothesis, the model assumes that helium, deuterium and the microwave background were all generated by massive stars in the early stages of galaxy formation. The microwave background is scattered and isotropized by multi-GeV electrons trapped in the jets emitted by active galactic nuclei. The model produces reasonable amounts of heavy elements, accurately predicts the gamma-ray background intensity and spectrum, and explains the statistics of quasars, compact and extended radio sources.

On most days, if you visit Harold Rosen, you will likely find him hunched over his desk, drawing circuit diagrams on his writing pad. He is probably puzzling out some new ideas he has had for a high-performance satellite antenna. If you are not in the areospace business, you may wonder what this design engineer is doing in a business suit in a commodious corner office in the headquarters of Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Space and Communications Group in El Segundo, Calif. But if you are in the business, you probably know that, far from being a bench engineer, Harold A. Rosen is the father of the Syncom satellite and vice president of engineering of the Hughes space group.

Electro '84 will combine with the IEEE Centennial anniversary and the Mini-Micro Northeast Conference for a week-long industry event in Boston in mid-May. Thc annual IEEE electronics convention and exhibition will be held May 15?17, as will the Mini-Micro show. The IEEE Centennial events will start on Sunday, May 13.

An explanation for the observed scale invariants in the universe is presented. Force-free magnetic vortex filaments are proposed to play a crucial role in the formation of superclusters, clusters, galaxies, and stars by initiating gravitational compression. The critical velocities involved in vortex formation are shown to explain the observed constant orbital velocities of clusters, galaxies, and stars. A second scale invariant nr = C where n is particle density and r is average distance between objects, is also noted here and explained by our model. The model predicts a maximum size for magnetic vortices, which is comparable to the dimensions of the observable universe and a density for such vortices which is close to that actually observed, eliminating any theoretical need for missing mass. On this basis, we present an alternative cosmology to that of the "Big Bang," one which provides a much better fit to recent observations of large-scale structure and motion. The model suggests scale invariants between microscopic and cosmological scales, leading to the derivation of a simple analytical expression for the fundamental constants G, mp/me, and e2/hc. We conclude that these expressions indicate the existence of vortex phenomena on the particle level.

The ongoing debate in the past year over the military strategy of the United States and its allies has spilled out of the military journals and onto the front pages of newspapers. The key questions of nuclear policy that have been argued for years in the classified conferences of specialists are the subject of mass demonstrations in Europe, Japan, and North America. What has brought the once-arcane discussion of nuclear planning to the attention of much of the world's population is the adoption by the current U.S. Administration of a new military strategy that calls for a vast arms buildup.

Command, control, and communications (C3) are the brains and nervous system of any modern military force. Without central coordination an army breaks down into disconnected, uncoordinated units, each fighting its own battle.

Both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Warsaw Pact have deployed thousands of nuclear weapons in European nations for use if war breaks out. Current NATO doctrine includes the use of nuclear weapons in the early stages of such a battle if NATO appears to be losing. Would the vast quantities of electronics deployed by the United States and its allies survive on such a battlefield?

What effects might electromagnetic pulses from exploded nuclear weapos have on nuclear power plants? Might they cause serious accidents in the plants? While preliminary investigations have indicated that such accidents are not likeiy, the Nuciear Regulatory Commission studying the matter to help the U.S. government decide whether new safety requirements are needed at the plants.

It is reported that the Israeli minister of defense was able to watch the most recent battle in Lebanon unfurl on his own television monitor (see Aviation Week & Space Technology, June 5, 1982, p. 16). He attributed his country's success against air attack to its military communications system. This case is testimony to the need felt by both major powers and smaller nations like Israel for increasingly sophisticated command, control, and communications (C3) systems used to command complex weaponry, from smart missiles to laser-guided artillery [see p. 96].