Fusion Message Board

In this space, visitors are invited to post any comments, questions, or skeptical observations about Philo T. Farnsworth's contributions to the field of Nuclear Fusion research.

Subject: Re: Hypothetical IEC
Date: Jul 12, 00:46 am
Poster: Ely Silk

On Jul 12, 00:46 am, Ely Silk wrote:


>Pulsing will, in theory, create lots of deuterons due to the higher current. I have noted this in a number of prior posts, especially with hydrogen thyratron drive systems. This is an area which can be explored by amaterurs, but, and this is the snag,... How do you count the neutrons?!!! I have tried, I have the neutron detection gear here! The pulses used in my system were about 5 orders of magnitude over the normal 10ma CW operating levels. Most of the current in the simple fusor are electron currents and not deuteron currents. The average pulse lasts about 1-5us in a well damped system and this swamps out the detector.
>
RH,

All is not lost. There are detectors that can be used to calculate neutron fluxes on the order you describe. Taking certain plastics(e.g., CR39) and sandwiching them with certain metals will produce tracks in the plastic after exposing the sandwich to neutron flux from a fusor. The tracks can be "developed" and counted under a microscope or with a laser. Of course, the number of tracks is proportional to the neutron flux. As a matter of fact, it is my interest in using nuclear track materials which excites me most of all with regard to the fusor.

Ely

P.S. You're right! This is mostly for fun. Forget breakeven.