Reply To: Toshiba's "Micro Nuclear Reactor" – it's not fusion, but it's here now

[Ivy Matt]

He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, a few hours closer to me (in the opposite direction) than to you. He is apparently very interested in astronomy and physics, and last year his project for ISEF was titled “The Efficiency of a Small Particle Accelerator at Irradiating Various Targets and Producing Radiation”. It won him a $500 Fourth Place Prize in the Physics and Astronomy category, as well as a $1000 First Place Prize sponsored by the Vacuum Technology Division of the American Vacuum Society. I’ve been able to find a little bit of information on his project for this year:

Bowman’s project involved the construction of a small dense plasma focus using simplistic components and systems. He was able to perform preliminary tests establishing the device’s potential utility as an X-ray source and nuclear fusion research tool. In addition, the plasma focus has many potential applications in the microfabrication and materials industries, including X-ray lithography, thin film deposition, and etching. Bowman plans to continue his research with the apparatus this summer, focusing on the device’s nuclear applications as an X-ray source and as an effective fusion-based neutron source.