Archived - HEAS 2010 Fusor IV operation.

[Richard Hull]

A huge number of images have just been sent to me by Tim Koeth, (the cyclotron guy -Univ Maryland), http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/cyclotron/
Tim responded with this special group of images showing the progression and interest in a smoothly functioning fusor. Many of the younger members had never seen a real fusor in operation. Some of those who had seen a fusor run, had not seen this level of stability and relative ease of startup and operation.

It is one thing to read in these forums how to start and run a fusor, another to actually see it happen. I took great pains in showing each step of operational preparations for those assembled. A number of folks video taped the enitre process without stop.

The following are those images that are representative of the fusor runs at HEAS 2010........

1. Richard operates the controls. John Rosenstiel kneels and watches, trying to keep clear of all the videos being taken by Ben, Tyler and Chad.

2. The Nixie counter was given a real workout as the pulses from the 3He counter came fast and furious.

3. John Rosenstiel fine tunes his special scintillation neutron counter he brought from California. I supplied the Nim bin and internal counter as he could not bring all that on the plane.

4. This is the typical rock steady and stable star image created throughout the entire run time of fusor IV, on both Friday and Saturday.

5. John holds his custom built scintillator up to fusor IV. It counted fast!

6. Tim Koeth holds his Ludlum Rem Ball neutron counter up to fusor IV. Everyone seemed to want to prove there were real neutrons there and brought their own instruments. Frank Sanns also brought a neutron counter. All secondary counters responded firmly and with great stability, miming fusor IV's stability.

7. Richard continues to throttle fusor IV with Professor Kevin Dunn looking on.

8. A satisfied and beaming Hull looks on as both his own 3He counter and John's scintillation counter rapidly click away.

9. Richard is a blur as he rapidly attempts to transfer the activated silver from the modest polyethylene moderator to his GM counter system half way across the lab. the first 24 seconds being the time of greatest activity.

10. Richard looks at a person commenting as the silver activation count continues to rise.

11. During one of the runs, Richard pushed the system a bit hard and arc over occurred on the insulator. Here Carl sands off some of the carbon as Richard is off to get some HV silicone putty. The repair took only about 15 minutes and then fusor IV was back in the biz for another hour or so of operation. No further incidents took place.

Great thanks go out to Tim Koeth for all these fine images of fusor 4 operation.

Richard Hull

[Starfire]

Thanks for sharing Richard - much appreciated and instructive.

Is no 10 photo ( the one with the Mona Lisa smile ) a picture of curiosity or pleasure?

[Richard Hull]

The look in #10 was one of "quizical happiness". "Quizical" due to my being asked a question or attempting to listen to someone talking to me. "Happiness" due to the Silver still counting and telling the tale in no uncertain terms.

Richard Hull