While Princeton University’s National Spherical Torus Experiment was shut down for improvements over the winter break, scientists and engineers availed themselves of the opportunity to recalibrate the reactor’s neutron sensors. To do so, they assembled a circular toy train track around the torus and ran a toy locomotive carrying a chunk of neutron-emitting californium-252 along it for three days. The New York Times explains:
A stationary neutron source was previously used for the calibration, but that did not fully capture how the neutrons bounced around. Putting the californium on the moving train improved the accuracy by about a factor of 10, Dr. Ono said.
[Thanks, Pete!]
6 thoughts on “Toy train used to calibrate fusion reactor”
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Just as soon as I build it. Any day now.
Setting a record for most expensive single track RR layout?
here’s what I wonder though, did they regulate the speed with a standard controller or make something more accurate?
I was also wondering if the neutron source could be used as a rtg for the train, but I’m guessing not since calibration probably needs a pretty low power source.
The look on the researcher’s face in that pic is priceless!
Any excuse for the big kids to play with a train set wil do.