Using a Toy Train To Calibrate a Reactor 120
alfredos writes "Physicists and engineers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory built tracks inside a fusion reactor and ran a toy train for three days to help them with their calibrations. From the article: 'The modified model of a diesel train engine was carrying a small chunk of californium-252, a radioactive element that spews neutrons as it falls apart. “We needed to refine the calibration technique to make sure we are measuring our neutrons as accurately as possible,” said Masa Ono, the project head of the National Spherical Torus Experiment.'"
Re:Spherical Torus? (Score:4, Informative)
NSTX produces a plasma that is shaped like a sphere with a hole through its center (a "cored apple" profile, see Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak), different from the "donut" (toroidal) shaped plasmas of conventional tokamaks. [wikipedia.org]
Re:Spherical Torus? (Score:3, Informative)
Those two surfaces are fundamentally different, topologically speaking. Would a spherical torus would look something like a 4-sided triangle?
I was wondering the same thing: "a plasma that is shaped like a sphere with a hole through its center (a "cored apple" profile [wikipedia.org], see Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak), different from the "donut" (toroidal) shaped plasmas of conventional tokamaks. This innovative plasma configuration may have several advantages, a major one being the ability to confine a higher plasma pressure for a given magnetic field strength. Since the amount of fusion power produced is proportional to the square of the plasma pressure, the use of spherically shaped plasmas could allow the development of smaller, more economical fusion reactors."
Link to the original article at the lab (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.pppl.gov/PPPLnews101.cfm [pppl.gov]
Re:Done something similar (Score:1, Informative)
Yes, during the precritical checkoff. I've done WAY to many of those. It was also required as part of the testing after replacing the source range detectors which I did as well. :(
Our source used to get stuck and it took a repeated action of a small push and then a hard pull to get it past some areas. The yellow water on the cable was not a good sign either
Ran 3 days and didn't jump the track? (Score:3, Informative)
As someone with with years of experience in model railroading, that story is "real scary."
You mean to tell me you are going to count on a model train going around its tracks for 3 days straight without someone, at some time during the 3 days, to either have to give the train a nudge when it gets stuck, or put it back on the track?
Re:radioactivity understanding fail (Score:3, Informative)
It depends on what form it is exposed to. If it is exposed to radioactivity in the form of a solid or dust or particulate material suspended in the air then it is quite possible for it to become contaminated.
If an object is exposed to radiation then it depends on the type. Neutron radiation is known for activating stable materials and making them radioactive while alpha, beta and gamma radiation generally does not.