Pictures From New Job!
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:11 pm
This is not a post to show any of the progress on my fusor (that shall be coming soon, however), but I thought I might share with you a unique experience I have been blessed with as of late.
Today marked my third week being employed at the University of New Mexico's Fusion and Plasma Science Laboratory. Primarily I work with a machine called the HelCat Dual-Source Plasma Device, but I also help out with whatever is needed in the other areas that deal with microwaves and pulsed power. HelCat stands for Helicon-Cathode. We call it this because it has a helicon plasma source, and a thermionic cathode (which is currently being rebuilt). The helicon source and thermionic cathode are mounted on boths sides of the device, and can be used either one at a time or at the same time (hence the "dual-source"). There is also an ion gun mounted on the side of the system that is being used to simulate how some interstellar plasmas may interact. The gases we use are primarily Argon and Helium.
This is the body of HelCat:
This is the helicon source:
This is where the thermionic cathode is normally mounted (but has been removed for rebuilding and for the convenience of other experiments).
A lot of what we have been doing (during the time I have been employed at least), is using things like mach probes, single-tip langmuire probes, and lasers to study the plasma inside the chamber.
Langmuire probe system to be mounted:
The laser that fires into the chamber. Also you can see part of the capacitor bank for the ion gun.
As of the last few days I have also gotten to see some work done with a machine called the Sinus-6 accelerator which is being used to study high-power microwaves.
The Sinus-6:
Overall I have found myself to be very lucky to have my first job here. It is giving me hands-on experience working in a scientific enviroment, and experience with plasmas, high voltage, machining, and (something I have found I am particularly fond of) vacuum systems. Just in these first few weeks of working I have gained tons of knowledge which I know I will take with me for the rest of my career, along with knowledge and advice I can take into my fusor project. This is a priceless experience I have been blessed with. I know it is rare for a high school student to have such an opportunity so I am very thankful for it.
Anyways! I thought I might just share this experience with some of you on these forums (especially since fusor.net is the place that sparked my passion for nuclear/plasma science that lead me to find this opportunity in the first place).
Today marked my third week being employed at the University of New Mexico's Fusion and Plasma Science Laboratory. Primarily I work with a machine called the HelCat Dual-Source Plasma Device, but I also help out with whatever is needed in the other areas that deal with microwaves and pulsed power. HelCat stands for Helicon-Cathode. We call it this because it has a helicon plasma source, and a thermionic cathode (which is currently being rebuilt). The helicon source and thermionic cathode are mounted on boths sides of the device, and can be used either one at a time or at the same time (hence the "dual-source"). There is also an ion gun mounted on the side of the system that is being used to simulate how some interstellar plasmas may interact. The gases we use are primarily Argon and Helium.
This is the body of HelCat:
This is the helicon source:
This is where the thermionic cathode is normally mounted (but has been removed for rebuilding and for the convenience of other experiments).
A lot of what we have been doing (during the time I have been employed at least), is using things like mach probes, single-tip langmuire probes, and lasers to study the plasma inside the chamber.
Langmuire probe system to be mounted:
The laser that fires into the chamber. Also you can see part of the capacitor bank for the ion gun.
As of the last few days I have also gotten to see some work done with a machine called the Sinus-6 accelerator which is being used to study high-power microwaves.
The Sinus-6:
Overall I have found myself to be very lucky to have my first job here. It is giving me hands-on experience working in a scientific enviroment, and experience with plasmas, high voltage, machining, and (something I have found I am particularly fond of) vacuum systems. Just in these first few weeks of working I have gained tons of knowledge which I know I will take with me for the rest of my career, along with knowledge and advice I can take into my fusor project. This is a priceless experience I have been blessed with. I know it is rare for a high school student to have such an opportunity so I am very thankful for it.
Anyways! I thought I might just share this experience with some of you on these forums (especially since fusor.net is the place that sparked my passion for nuclear/plasma science that lead me to find this opportunity in the first place).