Finn Hammer, neutron club application

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Finn Hammer
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Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Finn Hammer »

I used to think that the plasma club is for kids, but still the variety of plasma colours and shapes are cool to look at, so why not:

At the high pressures, around 200millitorr, the plasma is greyish-purple, not too exciting, but still....
200millitorr, 3kV, 10mA

DSC_4882.JPG


DSC_4884.JPG

I really like the following one where the plasma wraps around the grid like wires on a toroidal transformer
DSC_4886.JPG
Then almost instantly, like in pingg!!, colour arrives, at around 20millitorr

DSC_4888.JPG

After this, the race starts to follow the dropping pressure with a rising voltage, to keep the plasma lit:
77micron, 5mA, 4.1kV

DSC_4889.JPG
56micron, 5mA, 8kV

DSC_4891.JPG
32micron, 8mA, 19kV

DSC_4892.JPG

26micron, 15mA, 30kV and the grid got hot.
DSC_4893.JPG
Of course, in a realistic run, the pressure starts out low, and is increased by adding deuterium to a relatively empty chamber. I did say relatively empty....

The doing to this point has been covered ad nauseam in these threads:
Powersupply:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=13790
And the fusor:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13857
And in general:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=13936

However, since this post is about letting me in the exclusive neutron club, I have made a 13 minutes video with a rundown of the fusor, mentioning the key elements, and a startup of the fusor, demonstrating the operational procedures and parameters that lead to neutron production, in the end, I demonstrate that a piece of silver has been activated, to a low level, and the decay back to background, over a couple of minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igF-M-Djj4g

The silver, by the way, is chopped out of a silver dollar, and hammered out to a foil:
Forgot to mention the bug ugly black moderator, which is 20mm polyetylene piping, and 50mm paraffin.

IMG_20210618_195835[1].jpg
It says somewhere that a neutron club application must contain a selfie with the applicant and the instrument, and here it is:

I tried, I really did, not to look too grim,

IMG_20210618_184414[1].jpg

Ok, guys, I am at your mercy,

Cheers, Finn Hammer
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Dennis P Brown
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Dennis P Brown »

Well, first off, I can't open the vid of the neutrons/activation; it says its private. So, no go on that.

Also, you will need to associate numbers with your activation - so maybe post a graph of counts vs. time and post the results here so the 'YouTube' isn't completely necessary.
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Richard Hull
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Richard Hull »

I too, could not open the neutron video on google you-tube. It said it was a private video, not available.

Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
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Finn Hammer
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Finn Hammer »

Sorry for that, I think it has been sorted now:

https://youtu.be/igF-M-Djj4g

Cheers, Finn Hammer
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Jim Kovalchick
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Jim Kovalchick »

Finn,
I'm not the final judge, but from what I've seen, you deserve to get in the neutron club if anyone does. Congratulations on the awesome build and of course neutrons! Not many jump right to activation. Your hard work and skill are inspiring.

You mentioned your desire for safety. Your most immediate threat is out that viewport and at 30 kV and 10+ mA, I'm sure there are some nasty xrays. I recommend you put some sheet led between you and it.

Best regards,

Jim K
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Finn Hammer
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Finn Hammer »

Thanks, Jim.
I am very aware of the radiation hazards, but not yet qualified to judge them on a authorative level.
I did however, invest in the Lesker viewport with 5mm of leaded glas, and It would seem that this glass blocks the worst rays. Even then, I feel a bit of sunburn in the face after the latest runs. The canberra does not howl yet, and when I get the Ludlum model 9, with it's ion chamber, I will be able to measure the radiation to accepted standards.
I have a 60kV doubler, just waiting to be plugged in, but before I do, lead sheeting, a camera, and 5 meters of distance is going to be established. Then I can sit behind a brick wall and operate, but I am going to miss the direct view of the plasma. I feel it is a bit like welding. If you can't see the puddle, you can't weld.

Cheers, Finn Hammer
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Mark Rowley
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Mark Rowley »

Outstanding work Finn
The activated silver totally clinches it for me. As to the viewport xrays, I agree with Jim’s observations. The viewport undoubtedly provided a very detectable flow. Another point to consider is aluminum’s inherent transparency to xrays. Full shielding will undoubtedly be needed.

Advance congrats to your imminent addition to the club!

Mark Rowley
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Jim Kovalchick
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Jim Kovalchick »

Finn,
I forgot your chamber is Al. Like Mark says, your fusor is going to be gushing x-rays. I doubt you got burned at 30 kV with a leaded viewport. More likely you were feeling just heat.

The ion chamber will help.

Jim K
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Joe Gayo
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Joe Gayo »

Nice work Finn.

Glad to see another cube fusor making neutrons!
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Richard Hull
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Richard Hull »

Finn,

That was a great video which proves in the best way that you have a superlative fusor system, doing fusion. As such, your name is added to the special fusioneers as you have shown neutron activation. A really fine set up and a great view and tour of all of its components.
Congratulations,

Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
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Finn Hammer
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Finn Hammer »

To all you who have helped and supported me in the quest for neutrons!
Thank you! Without you, I would never have made it.
It was back in 2017 when I looked into the viewport of Bernhard Schistad's fusor, that I was finally hooked into doing fusion, and now, here I am with a potent fusion system.
-Still, so much more to learn.
Taming the russian neutron counters, Gammaspectroskopy, are topics on the list, more activation of course.
But for now, a week away from it all, I have promised to refurbish my daughters bathroom in Copenhagen.

Cheers for now, Finn Hammer
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Richard Hull
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Richard Hull »

Finn,

I knew Doc Bussard's engineer, Tom Ligon since 1996. He tried to interest me in the fusor back then. He sent me his article, yet to be published on the fusor. I was interested, but only in a passing way as I was deep into working with the Tesla magnifier at that time. However, like you, Finn, when Tom showed up with his desiccator fusor that Bussard had urged him to construct, literally overnight, and bring to the 1997 Teslathon, ( Now HEAS conference), and I peered into that glowing central void, I was hooked!! From that day forward Tesla coils would forever be in decline.

It is amazing how that single image on that one day would change the direction of my work. It would see a profound change in me and become a mission that I would take on to create and use fusion for my own edification and research. I would do my best to stimulate others in a like manner. Tom did not know it then, but his mission was accomplished.

Richard Hull
Attachments
Tom Ligon photo taken in 1997 at the Teslathon.  Tom was tasked by Doc Bussard to take the fusor to "the people"  Tom triggered me and I triggered all the rest with the help of Songs.com and the enabling by th' perfesser, Paul Schatzkin for the public venue on the web.
Tom Ligon photo taken in 1997 at the Teslathon. Tom was tasked by Doc Bussard to take the fusor to "the people" Tom triggered me and I triggered all the rest with the help of Songs.com and the enabling by th' perfesser, Paul Schatzkin for the public venue on the web.
Ligon's 1997 Teslathon demo fusor (nalgene desiccator)
Ligon's 1997 Teslathon demo fusor (nalgene desiccator)
Closeup of the inside of the Ligon desiccator fusor
Closeup of the inside of the Ligon desiccator fusor
This view changed the direction of my work in 1997!  I could, for the first time, link what I had read with what I saw, and with my knowledge of nuclear physics, understood that fusion was a doable thing at the amateur level.
This view changed the direction of my work in 1997! I could, for the first time, link what I had read with what I saw, and with my knowledge of nuclear physics, understood that fusion was a doable thing at the amateur level.
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
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Finn Hammer
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Finn Hammer »

I have done demos on schools, with a focus on magnetics, to try to plant a seed in the kids, that science and technology is a good thing and a fascinating thing.
Permanent magnets, elektromagnets, disk launcher, coilgun, and a tesla coil, of course.
I thought a fusor would be a nice addition to the show.
There will be issues related to radiation and safety in general, I hope to get that sorted. Probably just a low voltage demo fusor. The media talk about fusion ever so often, but most people relate plasma to blood products. So to be able to tell the kids, and their teachers too: Here you have it, this is what it looks like, and that temperature thing is impressive, (but not the way that you think).
Apart from turning the kids on to the technical world, I also want to show kids, that with a bit of focus, ordinary people like myself can acheive things.
Cheers, Finn Hammer
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Richard Hull
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Re: Finn Hammer, neutron club application

Post by Richard Hull »

Great work on all fronts, Finn. When one has the "fire in the belly", spreading that fire to others via teaching efforts is the coin of tomorrow.

Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
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