Chelsea L. Harris 1 Rand Watson 2 1.Texas Southern University; Houston, Texas Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute; College Station, Texas (Summer III) A Pyro-Electric Crystal Particle Accelerator
Purpose To continue modifications to the pyro-electric crystal particle accelerator to increase the neutron counting rate above background. To optimize a pyro-electric crystal particle accelerator to accelerate deuterons to sufficient energies to initiate d + d fusion reactions. Overall Immediate
Mechanisms D +D 3 He + n (Q = 3.3 MeV) (Q = 3.3 MeV) D + D T + p (Q = 4.0 MeV) (Q = 4.0 MeV)
Tunneling Effect From R. Dunlap, The Phy. Of Nuc. And Part. (2004) 179.
Applications
Pyro-Electric Crystals
The Particle Accelerator
The Detector Systems
The Particle Accelerator
The Crystal and Mount LiTa0 3
The Inner Chamber
X-Ray Spectrum Run 10 1 m Torr D2 – 7/10/07 Cu K-alpha Cu K-beta “Pile-up Peaks” Ca Ti Cr
X-Ray Spectrum Zn kβ S kα/kβ Fe kα Cd kα Cd kβ Run 10 1 m Torr D2 – 7/10/07 Fe kβ Zn kαS kα/kβ
Counts 76 Counts 49 Counts
Counts ~80 keV / 2 millitorr
What Now? Vary current and pressure…Vary current and pressure… Attach a larger, more efficient neutron detector…Attach a larger, more efficient neutron detector… Use two pyro-electric crystals…Use two pyro-electric crystals… Reproduce results …Reproduce results …
Acknowledgments Dr. Rand Watson National Science Foundation Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute Texas Southern University