First page Back Continue Last page Summary Text

Notes:


The experiment we have designed is derived from the UAH Spinning Terrella Accelerator (because in its dynamic configuration, it generates field-aligned lightning discharges.) It consists of a converted evaporator with a stainless bell jar and a roughing pump to bring it down to 10 mTorr vacuum. A powerful Neodymium-Boron ceramic magnet is mounted on an insulated post that can be rotated up to 1000 rpm by an external motor. Several high-voltage power supplies, seen next to the chamber, provide the voltage for the magnet and various probes seen in the photograph on the right. A needle valve adjusts the pressure by bleeding in a controlled amount of nitrogen or helium gas. The entire apparatus can probably be assembled for a few $1000 at most.