Fusion Achieved

Since I have last written, I have done much work on the reactor, including the addition of a new mounting system, based upon an old scroll saw stand, and the completion of the deuterium system. Also, the neutron detection system was completed.

Here is a picture of the full reactor.
The new detection system utilizes a boron-10 lined proportional tube, which can detect thermal neutrons, however, the neutrons from the D+D -> He-3 + n reaction have very high energies, and therefore must have their energy reduced prior to entering the tube. Therefore, the tube is placed inside a HDPE neutron moderator, which reduces neutron energy through elastic collisions with protons inside the moderator. The tube is read by a Ludlum Model-3.

I eventually fired the reactor up and did some trials with the gas system. My data indicates that the reactor does indeed work!
__________________________________________________________________________________

Data:

Due to the lack of the increase between tests 2 (background, unmoderated) and 3 (reactor on, unmoderated), it can be known that the tube was not detecting x-rays or EMI from the fusor, and that any recorded count would be due to neutrons.
The following three tests, (4-6, reactor on, moderated) show a large increase over background, indicating that the reactor was indeed producing a measurable neutron flux, and was indeed working!

I entered the reactor, with this simple experiment into the science fair, and I won both the district and regional fairs, and because of this, I will be attending the Intel International Science and Engineering fair in LA!

________________________________________________________________________________

What's Next?

I am in the process of rebuilding the gas system to allow for lower leak rates, and hence higher deuterium purity, this should allow for substantially higher neutron fluxes. Additionally, I am developing a penning type ion source, which will be added to the reactor and will allow it to operate at lower pressure with greater stability. Also, I may move the reactor to a new, recently acquired chamber with an exceptionally low leak rate, and a water cooling jacket.

________________________________________________________________________________

And finally, some pictures of the reactor