Raleigh (NC) - Scientists recently announced they have fired the most powerful antimatter beam ever created.  Comprised of positrons (antimatter electrons) emitted from a large plate and focused into a beam, the emission strength exceeds the previous record held by a laboratory in Munich, Germany.


Earlier this month, students and faculty at North Carolina State's PULSTAR nuclear reactor saw a positron beam 5x more powerful than any other ever emitted by man.  It was created by a device which looks amazingly similar to a warp reactor from Star Trek.

In truth, the PULSTAR reactor is a fascinating piece of equipment.  It's comprised of a few dozen distinct components which, when all working together in unison, creates a 1 megawatt pool-type research reactor.  It's fired by 4% enriched uranium dioxide in pin-type fuel pellets clad in zircaloy.  This particular type of fuel gives PULSTAR characteristics that are very similar to commercial light water power reactors.

The PULSTAR research center also has a wide range of teaching purposes.  For example, a variety of irradiation facilities are used for analytical services.  Their Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) provides academic institutions as well as state and federal agencies, and commercial companies across the country, with data and research.  Other fixed beam facilities on campus also do the same.  Training services in radiation measurements and isotopic analysis are also provided making this a true teaching facility at NC State.

The emitter characteristics are outlined here in this computer simulation.  Basically, the device uses an emitter plate to create positrons.  The math behind how this works would baffle most post-graduate students.  Basically though, a type of electrical and atomic condition is created within the plate which "encourages" the formation and expulsion of positrons.  From there the positron trajectories are altered by fields which guide and direct the positrons into a unified beam.  Without the encompassing field, the positrons would randomly collide with the device, likely consuming it in very short order.

Since this project has now created a successful, powerful antimatter beam, physicsts are looking to turn their attention to practical applications.  Dr. Ayman Hawari, associate professor of nuclear engineering and director of the Nuclear Reactor Program at NC State, told ncsu.edu's Dave Pond, "The idea here is that if we create this intense beam of antimatter electrons ... we can then use them in investigating and understanding the new types of materials being used in many applications."  These include antimatter spectrometers and the long theorized antimatter microscope, a device which is theoretically capable of digging much deeper into the atomic world than those based on matter.  It would reveal data not possible to collect with matter emissions alone.


The PULSTAR extractor lense.  Visit the NC State PULSTAR website to see a full schematic of this device, as well as its history.

The "positron project" began in 2005 with collaboration from NC State, the University of Michigan and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.  Dave Pond's original interview can be found here.

WOOT!!

Oct 26, 2007 09:59     

FIRE ANTI MATTER CANNON!!!!!!!!!!!
Ryan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Go Pack!

Oct 26, 2007 10:02     

As an alumni I'm always happy to read the technological advances coming out of NC State, especially those of the world record breaking variety.
Juice report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

new weapons?

Oct 26, 2007 10:34     

Can we fire antimatter weapons at our enemy from space and rule the world or maybe the universe!! neat article but wist there was a better list of practical applications [Like new weapons? -Rick]
tazfye report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Star Trek FTW!

Oct 26, 2007 10:45     

"ENGAGE!"
Joz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

GO WOLF PACK!

Oct 26, 2007 10:50     

As an Aerospace Engineering Alumni I know first hand of the technological advances that take place at state and it nice to see we make the headlines once and a while :-)
Someone report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

SCOTTY!!

Oct 26, 2007 12:22     

With the ever-nearing announcement of the first antimatter reactor will come the innevitable first antimatter core breach that Scotty can't contain!!! :) Cool article though!
MW report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Don't cross the beams!!!

Oct 26, 2007 12:45     

Unless you have to eliminate a chick/dude that is covered in soapy bubbles.
Taylor report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Star Trek

Oct 26, 2007 12:59     

Kirk did it better! [Correct answer! It goes: Kirk, Janeway, Picard, Sisko, several others including Captain Harriman of the Enterprise-B, and last, Archer. Of course, that's just my opinion. But, I'm probably right. :) -Rick]
ST report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Sheilds Up Mr. Data

Oct 26, 2007 13:03     

Red Alert... Red Alert .... This is very cool. Stuff like this should always get more print space than whether Britney Spears is wearing panties. Can't wait to see more practical applications for this. Maybe we can shoot Osama Bin Laden with it from the space shuttle. Ok that may be a bit far fetched, but a man can dream can't he! [Not that it could possibly matter, but lasers would be more efficient. -Rick]

Greg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

We lost power captain

Oct 26, 2007 13:48     

engineer: The positron converter is off-line captain we're losing power! Possible radiation leakage! captain: Blast! Without our engine or anti-matter cannon...we're sitting ducks out here. Shut down primary systems initiate auxiliary power and pull back!
CJ report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

You puny mortals,

Oct 26, 2007 18:23     

and your antimatter guns. Don't you yet realize that all this technology is nothing but toys when compared to the full power of my schwartz!!! (just don't jam the radar)
ikkeman report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Alternative to trash compactor?

Oct 26, 2007 20:52     

This could be the answer to landfill problems.
charlie report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Not a weapon, a star drive

Oct 28, 2007 19:06     

Antimatter is theoretically the most efficient spaceship power source we know of. But containing it is problematic. However, if we can make it as needed and don't need to store it then we're on cource for Alpha Centauri, assuming that we can up the output of this device the required number of orders of magnitude.
Julian report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Spartan Laser

Oct 28, 2007 22:54     

Inspired by Halo 3.
TapeMan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Power source?

Oct 29, 2007 02:03     

I don't think this can be used directly as a power source. It will take more energy to make antimatter than you can generate by mixing it with matter. One possibility I can think of is firing the anti proton beam at a tritium or He-3 target leading to engineering breakeven fusion reactors. Would the anihalation of protons in the target make fusion harder? I would think that the percentage of protons lost would be very small. Could this be used to enhance and control fission? Take a pile that is too small to use for a normal reactor. Zap it with the beam. You would get rid of protons and kick up the energy levels. Your pile would fission faster. If things get out of control, just kill the power and everything stops. I would guess that the energy used to power the beam would be far greater than the output of the reactor. If nothing else, this could give us a better understanding of high energy physics.

RalfTheDog report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: my other post. (My mistake. I am a moron).

Oct 29, 2007 02:08     

They were talking about positrons not anti protons. Please ignore most of my speculation. I guess it is late. I should not post while I am this tired.
RalfTheDog report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

a star drive

Oct 29, 2007 04:21     

And where are you going to store the fuel (energy) to GENERATE the anti-matter, then, if you don't store it? :) Anti-matter WILL only make sense if you can store it and take it with you.
knowitall report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Simnpsons did it!

Oct 29, 2007 21:02     

it had to be said
joe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

COOL!!

Oct 29, 2007 22:11     

this is just too cool... I love hearing about Star Trek inspired tech making inroads into reality. Even if its far from a working model its just really exciting. Look at the cloaking device for heavens sake... they're making incredble progress on that technology.
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star drive - reply to knowitall

Oct 30, 2007 01:50     

You'll always need fuel, and (unless you can build a very efficient Bussard ramjet to gather interstellar hydrogen) you'll need to carry it with you. But if you can convert half of the fuel to antimatter with one of these devices and combine it with the other half to produce pure energy, you'll have an engine that is 100% efficient, i.e. it could convert all the energy in the fuel into kinetic energy for propulsion. Short of a hyperdrive that's the way to go.

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antimatter

Nov 01, 2007 10:26     

alright next time anybody says Roswell was, neverwas has rocks in their heads. How do you go from 2 years ago having the Airforce spanking monkeys over the idea and commenting on how it is impossible to a working antimatter unit. Can you say Greys, and other ET's. Just keep this away from the paws of the military and congress before they end everything. End Us and the planet!
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I will use this exciting discovery for the developm...

Oct 04, 2008 10:38     

I will use this exciting discovery for the development of renewable energy sources.
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