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NC State University PULSTAR Nuclear Reactor  (Source: NC State University)
Strongest positron beam in the world created at NC University; Klingons Jealous

Once the realm of science fiction shows like Star Trek, the positron beam now has the potential to become a functional device for scientific purposes. North Carolina State University announced this week that it had broken a record for low-energy positron beam strength.

A team of researchers at North Carolina State University, the University of Michigan and Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced the construction of the most powerful beam of positrons ever recorded. Dr. Ayman Hawari, associate professor of nuclear engineering and director of the Nuclear Reactor Program at NC State reports that the measurements of the positron beam rate created using the universities PULSTAR nuclear reactor shows a beam rate of 5-6x108 positrons per second.

Positrons are the antiparticle of electrons and are generated in the intense radiation at the core of the PULSTAR nuclear reactor.

Dr. Hawari told NC University Engineering News, “These numbers are two orders of magnitude higher than those available using regular lab sources and exceed intensities currently reported by other international facilities.”

Researchers plan to put the newly created positron beam to work improving the ability to measure the porosity of a material. The beam will be used in Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectrometry (PALS) and Doppler Broadening Spectrometry (DBS).

The PULSTAR reactor that made the positron beam possible has been operational since 1972 and is a 1-MW pool-type research reactor that uses 4% enriched pin-type fuel of uranium dioxide with a zircaloy cladding.

The previous positron beam strength record was held by a team using a reactor based in Munich, Germany.


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Jimmy Hoffa
By theruggedlion on 10/27/2007 2:29:18 PM , Rating: 2
Since its anti-matter and it makes things cease to exist, could it be used on humans? If so, thats pretty effin scary.




RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By detinith on 10/27/2007 2:48:19 PM , Rating: 1
positrons are a single positive charge while electrons are a single negative charge, which is what they meant by 'anti-particle'. if they combined they would form a neutral charge.


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By AvidDailyTechie on 10/27/2007 3:58:41 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
positrons are a single positive charge while electrons are a single negative charge, which is what they meant by 'anti-particle'. if they combined they would form a neutral charge.

don't forget that it annihilates the electron in the process.


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By AvidDailyTechie on 10/27/2007 4:00:58 PM , Rating: 5
Take: you - your electrons = bad


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By Captain Orgazmo on 10/27/2007 4:43:04 PM , Rating: 4
You bet... imagine getting a shock from everything you touch, and god forbid you go out in an electrical storm... especially with metal pants.


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By MrTeal on 10/27/2007 7:35:56 PM , Rating: 3
Uh, no. A positron and an electron don't combine to create a neutral particle, they annihilate each other and emit gamma rays (usually). Very, very different.


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By Oregonian2 on 10/29/2007 3:23:27 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, there is a test method used for detecting cancer where the patient is given some positron-emitting sugar and then the person is scanned for the gamma rays as it decays. Computer then generates images that map metabolism rates (cancer metabolizes very fast). My wife had one of these (and passed!). For that test, the stuff is made to order and has a pre-arranged airflight where it's picked up and used pronto the same morning. Doesn't last long.


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By melgross on 10/27/2007 4:25:44 PM , Rating: 3
You don't need hundreds of millions of dollars worth of lab equipment to make a human cease to exist. This changes nothing.


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By James Holden on 10/27/2007 6:17:03 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
You don't need hundreds of millions of dollars worth of lab equipment to make a human cease to exist.

Maybe *you* would.


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By theruggedlion on 10/27/2007 10:34:59 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
You don't need hundreds of millions of dollars worth of lab equipment to make a human cease to exist. This changes nothing


lol I know that, I just got some crazy thoughts thats all. One of them was, if they are able improve the technology, send it orbiting to space, and use it as a weapon of war. The beam supposedly has very, very long range.

But I'm just daydreaming, I don't even know how the technology works or what it needs to work.


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By MrTeal on 10/28/2007 11:47:46 PM , Rating: 2
Really? Got a source on the beam range? I would have thought a positron beam would be extremely difficult to use as weapon, since the antiparticles would annihilate electrons in the atmosphere.


RE: Jimmy Hoffa
By NEOCortex on 10/29/2007 11:26:40 AM , Rating: 2
Not to mention they are charged particles, which means they would be affected by electric fields. So long distance, even through the vacuum of space isn't practical.

No, this positron beam will have less range then the electron beam in your typical CRT.


Question
By FITCamaro on 10/27/2007 2:20:36 PM , Rating: 2
What are the practical applications of this kind of beam?




RE: Question
By bupkus on 10/27/2007 2:28:55 PM , Rating: 6
Government funding


RE: Question
By Rookierookie on 10/27/2007 3:17:55 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Government funding


This just made my day.


RE: Question
By Guuts on 10/27/2007 5:57:17 PM , Rating: 2
Made me laugh out loud at that one. :-)


RE: Question
By Gul Westfale on 10/27/2007 8:40:26 PM , Rating: 2
hahaha nice one :)


RE: Question
By baadcatj on 10/28/2007 3:05:03 AM , Rating: 1
With the wittiness & the Truth of that response, it really deserves an up-rating!
(However, while I've been reading DT for a year, this is my first post. How do I go about uprating this to a '6'?)


RE: Question
By James Holden on 10/28/2007 3:11:21 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
How do I go about uprating this to a '6'?

Only Kris can do that.


RE: Question
By baadcatj on 10/28/2007 3:12:59 AM , Rating: 2
Got it. Thanks. And Thank you too, Kris.


energy generation?
By Whedonic on 10/27/2007 7:34:24 PM , Rating: 2
How much energy does it take to power one of these beams? I wonder if it's less than the energy output from the beam's annihilation of electrons...antimatter power plant anyone?




RE: energy generation?
By Tuor on 10/27/2007 9:16:42 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
1-MW pool-type research reactor


So, 1 MW is the maximum theoretical output of the reactor with its real output probably about 60-70% of that. In other words, not a whole lot of power. OTOH, it's not a matter of power, but of creating enough positrons, which is what the reactor is being used to do.