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Using a Toy Train To Calibrate a Reactor

Posted by samzenpus on from the little-engine-that-could-measure-minute-amounts dept.

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.'"

2 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Re:So what is this... by craash420 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Too much effort, just bookmark http://www.sadtrombone.com/

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    Extra medication for all!
  2. Re:Selling this to management . . . by shabtai87 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I wonder if it started as a joke: Admin: and how do you propose we sprinkle the neutrons around our reactor? Physicist(sarcastically): I dunno, we put it in a toy train and run it in circles. Admin: OK, get me the results by Fri.

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    @humanity: *facepalm*