Making Our Fusion Reactor Better, day 87 of 320: rebar installed in the mid-level floor that will hold the particle beam. A few more weeks of setting this up before the concrete pour can begin. ?? ??
Making Our Fusion Reactor Better, day 86 of 320: attending a seminar from Richard Garwin. In addition to talking about Enrico Fermi and nuclear physics in the 1940s, he pointed out how access to better diagnostics allowed some groups to beat others to big discoveries.
My favorite little guy, complete with baby feet in the photo. ? ?
Making Our Fusion Reactor Better, day 80 of 320: after filling four dumpsters full of concrete and dirt, we have removed just shy of 100,000 pounds of material from the machine hall. This was necessary because we need a new slab to support the upgraded particle beam. ?? ??
Making Our Fusion Reactor Better, day 79 of 320: I thought our new signs were pretty great, but then someone mentioned that the institutional logos look small and now that’s all I notice. ?? ???
Making Our Fusion Reactor Better, day 78 of 320: the new concrete slab has been poured. This reinforces the wall as necessary to allow a 50 ton particle beam to “swing” across it (it moves slowly, not really swinging).