About Me
My name is Tom McCarthy, I am 14 years old and I am trying to
build my very own nuclear fusion reactor. I have a huge interest in Maths and Physics, especially the field of Nuclear Physics. The type of fusion reactor
that I want to build is called a Fusor, I came across this type of reactor a
year ago, when watching a video about another teenager who had built his own one. The idea
of building my own Fusor immediately captured my imagination. Since then, I
have spent hundreds of hours researching the equipment, mechanics and key
concepts involved in a Fusor.
Now, after a year of research, I believe I am finally ready to
begin construction of my own Fusor. I have acquired the support of a number of
people, including Dr. Patrick McCarthy (no relation), of University College Cork, an expert
in magnetic confinement fusion and Mr. Joe Daly, my secondary school Science
teacher. My school, St. Gerald's College, is also backing my project. Also, my Uncle, Professor
Tommie McCarthy has helped me set up a website at www.tommccarthyprojects.com
However, to build a Fusor requires a lot of specialised equipment,
and to build my own Fusor, I have calculated the cost to be just under €10,000. I know this is a large sum of money, but with your help, I can achieve a
lifetime goal. Not only that, but, building a Fusor is the first step in my journey to build a clean and safe form of energy in a sub-critical
fusion-fission generator.
The Fusor - And How It Works
The Fusor itself works on the basis of something called inertial
electrostatic confinement. It's a bit of a mouthful, but simply put, it is
where a ball of plasma is "trapped" and held in place by
electricity.
The main event that happens in the Fusor is that the nuclei of
deuterium, which is a type (isotope) of hydrogen, fuse together. To do this, a number of different
sub-systems work together in the Fusor. First is the vacuum line; this creates
very low pressure inside the vacuum chamber where fusion takes place and
increases the probability of fusion. Next, is the power supply and grid. The
power supply delivers high voltage, low current, DC power to a tungsten grid placed in the centre of the vacuum
chamber. The power supply is used to make the tungsten grid a cathode
(negatively charged), and the vacuum chamber itself, an anode (positively charged). Thirdly, there is a deuterium supply line which supplies deuterium to the
chamber. In the chamber, the deuterium atoms are positively ionised, as their single electron flies toward the chamber's positive walls. The positive deuterium
nuclei then fly toward the tungsten grid and fuse with each other, releasing sub-atomic particles and energy.
The
individual sub-systems are fully detailed on my web site
(www.tommccarthyprojects.com)
along with the instrumentation, measuring equipment and some other
miscellaneous items required.
Why Support
Me?
I'm sure that if you are reading this, you are probably asking
yourself why you should support me. By supporting me, you will be doing two
things:
- You will be helping me on my journey to constructing a new type of nuclear reactor (see below), which is much more sustainable and safer than current designs.
- You will be giving me an opportunity to study inertial electrostatic confinement and plasmas and get experience in fusion operation.
- You will be helping me achieve a lifetime goal.
A number of people, including teenagers have already built
Fusors, so me building one is not new. However, building one on my own is
somewhat like someone climbing Mount Everest, it has been done before but not
by many people and sponsorship and support is needed to reach the top, which is
why I am asking for your help.
The main reason that I'm building a Fusor is to use it as a key component in a larger design
in a long term goal. This goal is to build a sub-critical, fusion-fission, hybrid generator. A sub-critical
generator is a new type of generator that has never been constructed before, even though it is safer than current fission deigns. The idea behind it is that a fusion reaction produces neutrons to fuel a
further fission reaction which produces energy. The fission part of the
generator is fueled by thorium which is a better and safer fuel than uranium.
What
I've Done So Far
In
the year since I found out about Fusors, I have spent hundreds of hours
researching them. I have also put together a proposal document and set up my
own website which I update regularly.
So far, a number of people have also graciously agreed to
support my project and advise on different topics, these people will be helping
me as I begin to build my Fusor.
An especially big thank-you is due to my Uncle Tommie – listed
below – who has helped me with a lot of different things, such as setting up my website.
-
Advisor and Mentor: Mr. Joe Daly,
my Science teacher at St Gerald’s College, Castlebar.
-
Advisor and Mentor:
Professor Tommie McCarthy (my Uncle ), Department of
Biochemistry, University College Cork, who is helping me with planning and
organising the project.
-
Advisor on Fusion and Research: Dr.
Patrick McCarthy (not related), Department of Physics, University
College Cork, who is an expert in magnetic confinement fusion and has a
plasma data analysis group at UCC.
-
Technical Advisor: Mr. Tony O’Dwyer, aerospace and electrical systems engineer, Madrid, who has built a Fusor already and is working on another.
-
Advisor on Public Understanding
of Science and Radiation Safety: Professor Willie
Reville, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry and Public
Awareness of Science Officer at UCC, Chair of the Board of the Radiological
Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).
-
Advisor on Vacuum Theory and Safety: Mr. Jude Quigley,
Abbots, Sterilization Utilities Engineer.
-
Financial Management
(guardians and records): My parents - Mairead, a civil engineer, and Cathal, a sculptor.
I have also managed to convince my parents to allow me to go ahead with this. My Dad thought I was crazy for a while, but he is beginning to believe me when I say that I'm totally sane!
![]()
Me and Dr. McCarthy in
his lab during a recent visit.
A massive thanks is also due to the folks from fusor.net who
have a wonderful forum and have provided me with more information than I could
possibly hope to list here on Fusors.
I have also received one donation, an oscilloscope. The
oscilloscope was donated to me free of charge by Richard and Anita Tarr, whom I
would like to thank.
![]()
The oscillscope which
Richard and Anita Tarr donated.
What Happens If I Don't Reach My Target?
As I stated before, I have estimated the cost of my Fusor
to be just less than €10,000. However, I have set the funding goal on this
campaign to €11,000 to account for Indiegogo fees, perk costs, and to make
sure I have enough money to leave some funds in reserve incase an
item costs more than expected.
In my case, the €10,000 I hope to acquire will
allow me to purchase excellent equipment and leaves room for some modifications
- such as adding an extra grid or ion injection system. Nevertheless, if I do
not get the full amount from this campaign, I am still determined to build my
Fusor. This is because aside from crowd funding, I have two other methods for supplementing the required funds if I do not get the full amount here. Those two methods are: Asking for
sponsorship from companies and organising funding events/concerts in my
hometown which is possible due to my school supporting the project. Either way,
the best path forward is for this crowd funding campaign
to be fully funded, as it is the most efficient and effective way to garner
finances.
Perks And Rewards
For this campaign, I am using a cumulative perk system. This means that rewards are heaped upon each other as donor level rises. For the start of the campaign, I have seven individual donor levels, but if, during the campaign, an excellent reward springs to mind, I will add it. If I happen to add a perk, anyone who donated more than the perk added will receive whatever reward(s) it contains. Below, the different donor levels are listed with their rewards.
-
€10: You'll get your name on my website as a supporter and I'll keep you updated on the Fusor by an e-newsletter.
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€25: I'll email you five fusion facts once a week for five weeks. You'll also get the Fusor e-newsletter and be listed on the supporters list on my website.
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€50: You'll get the e-newsletter, fusion factoids, be listed on my website's supporters list and receive an original custom-designed fusor t-shirt.
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€100: You will receive a deluxe version of the t-shirt. Along with this, you will be placed on the sponsor list rather than the supporter list and receive the e-newsletter and fusion factoid perks.
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€250: The rewards for a €250 donation are the same as those for €100, but instead of a t-shirt you receive a lovely, custom-designed hoodie.
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€500: You will receive the same as for the €250 donation. In addition, you will be listed as a major sponsor on my website and I will make an educational video on a fusion related topic for an age group of your choice and post it on Youtube. You will be credited as the main sponsor of this video.
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€1,000: You receive the e-newsletter, fusion factoids, deluxe t-shirt and hoodie and will be listed as a main sponsor on my website. I will also make an educational video on a fusion related topic for an age group of your choice and post it on Youtube. You will be credited as the main sponsor of this video. Finally, I will erect a permanent plaque in your name on the Fusor housing.
Other Ways To Help
Other than contributing to this campaign, a really great way to help me out is to spread the word. If you could share my campaign on Twitter, Facebook, with your family and friends and in any other way you know how, that'd be really great. My Twitter is @fusorfusion, so if you'd like to contact me through that, please follow! The more people that take time to look at my campaign, the more chance that I will reach my goal. You can also use the Indiegogo share tools or leave a comment on the campaign, they're really good for increasing my campaign's "GoGo" factor, which decides whether or not my campaign gets on the front page. If you have the time, please do it!
Finally,
Thank you for taking the time to read about my project. I really appreciate any contribution you can make as every bit helps.
Yours sincerely,
Tom McCarthy
