Page 1 of 1

HV thyratrons and fusion

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:22 pm
by Roberto Ferrari
Hi,

Thinking about John Myers' recent post,I had a slightly mad idea.

The HY-3202 thyratron is loaded with deuterium and the inner pressure is around 15-30 mtorr (as per WiKi), not too far from fusors.
So, working at 30 kV may do some fusion…
All needed to check this is to monitor neutrons close to a high voltage working thyratron.
What you fusorists think about?

Roberto

Re: HV thyratrons and fusion

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2017 6:09 pm
by Richard Hull
If there were neutrons produced by the thyratron, there would have to be a radiation warning on the tube. Pulses are on the order of 1us and the fastest rep rate is typically 1khz. Plus the deuterons are headed in one direction only and that would imply beam on target and there is no target that is deuterated.

I would imagine only a very well tuned 3He tube detector might have a chance of picking any emission out of the noise floor

Richard Hull

Re: HV thyratrons and fusion

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2017 7:51 pm
by Roberto Ferrari
Hi Richard
I am aware of the pulsed mode of operation but estimated that the average power involved was higher than the 500 W of a typical fusor.
About the loaded target I assumed that nickel is a typical support/cage for filaments, good enough to store deuterium during tests and operation life time.
Of course, I realize mine is just a hunch.
Thanks for comment.
Roberto

Re: HV thyratrons and fusion

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 6:55 pm
by Richard Hull
Yes, the pulses can range to one million watts peak pulsed power in a ceramic thyratron. However the pulses are going the wrong way and the deuterium gas is not being accelerated during the pulse. The gas is being bulk ionized and used as a conductor. The same goes for mercury in and old thyratron and plain hydrogen. Not all hydrogen thyratrons have deuterium in them.

Richard Hull