Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Build Your Own Cyclotron

Posted by michael on from the popcorn-not-included dept.

mindpixel writes "Physics Today is running a story about Tim Koeth's 12 inch cyclotron. Here's a quote that says it all: 'I was sitting in Tom Devlin's modern physics lecture. He described the principle of the cyclotron. He said it required a lot of RF power. I was--and am--a ham radio operator, so RF was no problem. It needed a big magnet; I knew I could find one of those. How tough could a vacuum system and chamber be?'"

5 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds dangerous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've seen Battlestar Galactica. First you build one, then it tries to kill you!

  2. cyclotron by That's+Unpossible! · · Score: 5, Informative

    n. A circular particle accelerator in which charged subatomic particles generated at a central source are accelerated spirally outward in a plane perpendicular to a fixed magnetic field by an alternating electric field. A cyclotron is capable of generating particle energies between a few million and several tens of millions of electron volts.

    --
    Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
  3. No big deal..... by CharlieG · · Score: 5, Informative

    Folks,
    Go out and get yourself a copy of "The Amateur Scientist" collection on CD.

    For those of you who are too young to remember the column, or before it was dumbed down, Scientific American had a column called "The Amateur Scientist" - they had plans for a cyclotron, a SERIOUSLY high power CO2 laser and LOTS of other things that could get you hurt in a real hurry. And they showed REAL experiments, and REAL science in that column.

    Of course, that was before SciAmerican got dumbed down, became half ads, and became PC - you could actually find desenting views in REAL papers

    --
    -- 73 de KG2V For the Children - RKBA! "You are what you do when it counts" - the Masso
  4. Re:12" magnet weighing 2.5 ton? by MmmDee · · Score: 5, Informative
    Look for magnet details here.
    Height: 36 inches (91cm)

    Width:42 inches (106.5cm)

    Depth:12 inchs (30cm)

    Pole Diameter:12 inches (30cm)

    Yoke Cross Section:72sq.inches (450sq.cm.) per yoke (double that for total circuit area)

    Total Weight: 4,600 pounds

    -each coil:800 pounds

    -Iron:3,000 pounds

    Power Consumption (max. operating conditions): 4kW (80 V @ 50 A)

    Cooling Requirements: Water flow approx 2 GPM
    --
    No man's an island, unless he's had too much to drink and wets the bed.
  5. Most everyone claims to have a 12" cyclotron... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...when most cyclotrons are only around 5.5 inches.