Atomic Energy

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The Atomic Energy Interest Group at DMS provides an opportunity for members and others interested in nuclear science and its practical applications to engage in discussions and activities. The Group is unapologetically "pro-nuke" and keenly interested in the divers ways that this branch of human knowledge, touching the deepest roots of Nature, can address human needs.

Atomic Energy category on the DMS Talk forum

Activities

Classes

Responsible citizenship requires the layman to acquire a grasp of nuclear matters if he is to pass intelligent judgments on pressing domestic and international issues.
—Glenn Seaborg, Chairman, USAEC (1963)

Naturally, what we can do in the way of practical experiments and demonstrations is limited by resources, legal questions, health-and-safety concerns, and the need to avoid disturbing other users of the Space. Lectures, however, are easily arranged and have few problems.

Nuclear Science Day at DMS

As an observance of National Nuclear Science Week, the DMS Atomic Energy Interest Group has set up displays, shown videos, and given demonstrations on nuclear science and energy topics. National Nuclear Science Week is always the third full week in October, and we have selected the Saturday of this week for our Nuclear Science Day. In 2014 this was the 25th of October 25, and in 2015 it was the 24th.

File for printing out the Timeline on 5×8 index cards (PDF, 100 kB) — certainly not a complete list of important achievements, people, and terms, but hopefully a good place to start.

DMS Geiger Counter

The general concept is to read out counts per minute on a display. With a 3-digit display, two ranges, x1 and x100, seem sufficient, since levels above 99 900 cpm (with a beta-gamma counter) are extreme. The power supply will be from a standard 9 V battery. To prolong battery life, the low voltage for the electronics (Vcc, 3.3 V) will be drawn from a buck converter, and the high voltage for the tube (400 V) from a boost converter, both with efficiencies above 75%.

Tube type
STS-5 (Russian military surplus), 110 mm long, 12 mm diameter, working voltage 400 V
HV supply
LT3420 photoflash chip, with 33 μF 450 V capacitor
LV supply
BP3275-33 package DC-DC converter (requires no external components)

Field Trips

Members

publius (talk)