Instruments
At the beginning of 2010, LPP was observing their shots with just two instruments—the Main Rogowski Coil that measured the current, and the Far Time-of-Flight PMT which measured the neutrons and X-rays.
As of now, they have 15 instruments: a silver activation detector, five bubble detectors, two Time-of-Flight PMTs looking at the neutrons, 3 X-ray PMTs, the upper and lower Rogowski coils studying the ion beam, the ICCD camera taking excellent high-resolution photographs, and a high voltage probe measuring the device voltage. In addition, they have up to 12 optical detectors monitoring the firing of the switches. They also have an X-ray pinhole camera installed, but it has not returned images yet as they don’t have enough X-rays.
Wishlisted: LPP hopes to rent an ICCD camera that would take 12 images in sequence (aka a real movie - not a compilation) in a single shot.
Two instrument remain to be installed, the X-ray spectrometer and an X-ray lens. Both of these instruments are intended to be used when they are producing more X-rays after changing to pB11 fuel.
The present large set of instruments, perhaps the largest used to study a single DPF, has been the key to LPP’s ability to accurately measure and to understand the plasma produced in their shots.
As of now, they have 15 instruments: a silver activation detector, five bubble detectors, two Time-of-Flight PMTs looking at the neutrons, 3 X-ray PMTs, the upper and lower Rogowski coils studying the ion beam, the ICCD camera taking excellent high-resolution photographs, and a high voltage probe measuring the device voltage. In addition, they have up to 12 optical detectors monitoring the firing of the switches. They also have an X-ray pinhole camera installed, but it has not returned images yet as they don’t have enough X-rays.
Wishlisted: LPP hopes to rent an ICCD camera that would take 12 images in sequence (aka a real movie - not a compilation) in a single shot.
Two instrument remain to be installed, the X-ray spectrometer and an X-ray lens. Both of these instruments are intended to be used when they are producing more X-rays after changing to pB11 fuel.
The present large set of instruments, perhaps the largest used to study a single DPF, has been the key to LPP’s ability to accurately measure and to understand the plasma produced in their shots.
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Recent posts in this category
High energy efficiency demonstrated by first ion beam measurement
Feb 09, 2011Per LPP: “In an eventful January in the lab, we have seen evidence for the first time that we have achieved high efficiency of energy transfer into the plasmoid and the beam. More than 15% of total bank energy, over 8 kJ, passed through to the beams.”
Focus fusion movie with real ICCD images released
Feb 07, 2011LPP worked together with the Focus Fusion Society to compile images from the experiment’s high-speed camera into an overall movie of what is happening when Focus Fusion-1 fires its capacitor bank.
ICCD photos show 150-micron plasmoid, sequence of events in pinch
Oct 13, 2010From LPP’s October Report.
Pinhole camera effects
Aug 09, 2010Smudge or plasmoid? The crew develops the film from the X-ray pinhole camera.
Progress with Time of Flight Detectors
Aug 09, 2010As with the PMT detectors, LPPX’s time-of-flight detector noise problems were also resolved.
X-ray PMTs reveal more than 60 keV electron energies, triple pulse structure
Aug 09, 2010The following is from the LPPX July Focus Fusion report. For the laypeople reading this, a PMT is a photo-multiplier tube. Here are some pictures of various PMT‘s (they’re used throughout the lab). Once we get adequate resources, we will make describing the purpose and operation of PMTs and other instruments a priority. For now, here’s LPPX’s technical writeup:
ICCD Camera
Jul 29, 2010The following are some images of the ICCD camera used by LPPX. For a look at what the camera sees, check out this post about ICCD plasmoid image. And to help us flesh out a discussion of the instruments, visit the new wiki.
Improvements in Firing and Instruments
Apr 07, 2010From LPP’s March 31 report: “Improvements in Firing and Instruments Combine to Produce Encouraging Results”:
Instrumentation – Silver activation detector installed
Mar 02, 2010Per Eric Lerner:
We now have a silver activation neutron detector working. This instrument, constructed by Dr. Haboub based on a design that has been calibrated by others, uses a standard method for counting neutrons and is much more sensitive than the solid-state commercial neutron dosimeters we already have.
Far Time-of-Flight calibrated, noise problem eliminated
Jan 11, 2010[Report from LPP - “we” refers to LPP] The Far Time of Flight (FTF) has now been calibrated against background radiation.
Neutron Time of Flight Detectors
Dec 08, 2009Another update from Eric Lerner. “We have installed, but not fully tested, two important instruments, the neutron time-of-flight detectors.”
Measuring a Billion Degrees
May 28, 2001How did LPP measure a billion degrees in their Billion Degree Breakthrough? With no ordinary thermometer.
Plasma Density Measurement
May 25, 2001How we calculated the density of the plasmoid in the Texas A&M experiments.
