Hello M.E. Community,
My apologies for the last minute invitation but please know that you are invited to join the PhD Candidacy Exam/Proposal Defense of Willow Morrissey, beginning shortly at 10:30am in the Mechanical Engineering Conference Room (Engineering 210 suite).
Advisor: Dr. Carlos Romero-Talamás.
Title: Centrifugal Mirror Fusion Experiment: Neutron Diagnostics
Abstract:
The neutron yield in a proposed fusion device is a crucial metric to determining the power output
of the plasma. As such, neutron detection is a necessary diagnostic for the CMFX machine. The
current neutron diagnostic suite consists of two Helium-3 proportional gas tubes as well as CR-39
solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs). The first method allows for read-off immediately after
the detection occurs while the CR-39 must be chemically etched for several hours before being read
off with an optical microscope. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages with the main
advantage of the CR-39 being the exceptionally low cost. Preliminary work on He-3 and CR-39
detection methods, as well as current methods used for reading off data and efficiency calculations
and transport code simulations are shown. Additionally, determination of the current emission rate
of a Cf-252 source was determined for use in the efficiency calculations. Lastly, proposed work on
tomographic techniques employing a large array of CR-39 detectors is also outlined.