can a neutron gun be made?

Dege · « **on:** 02/02/2009 21:05:46 »

what all do you think could be done with a neutron gun and how do you think you would make one. I am not a terrorist I am just wondering. [

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Chemistry4me · « **Reply #1 on:** 02/02/2009 21:13:35 »

Here is how you would do it:

Take a lead tube and plug one end of it up with a lead plug.
Inside the smoke detectors (if you've got one), there is some Americanicium-241, I don't know where it is exactly (there was one time they did it on a podcast in Kitchen science), but remove it and place it inside your lead tube. You might try using a Geiger counter to find it (if you've got one [

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Plug the remaining open end with another lead plug, but drill a very small hole all the way through this one.
Place an aluminium foil over the end of the tube with the hole and hold it in place with a rubber band.

REMEMBER: the aluminum foil must cover the hole, this is essential to its operation!

CONGRATULATIONS! You've just made a neutron gun!

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #2 on:** 02/02/2009 21:31:45 »

And as for what can be done with a neutron gun...

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #3 on:** 02/02/2009 21:37:28 »

But you're not going to kill anyone with it anytime soon. [xx(]

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #4 on:** 03/02/2009 00:06:26 »

What about a proton gun or an electron gun?

Dege · « **Reply #5 on:** 03/02/2009 02:47:50 »

thanks allot, how much americium would it take? and no i would not kill anyone with it [

] lol

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #6 on:** 03/02/2009 02:53:20 »

As much as you want! Or what ever you can fit into the lead tube.

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #7 on:** 03/02/2009 02:56:46 »

A couple of smoke detectors will do nicely! [

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Dege · « **Reply #8 on:** 03/02/2009 03:19:14 »

ha ha thanks allot chem4me. now lets get down to the real neutron gun [

] lol what would you have to do as a power source for transmuting elements.

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #9 on:** 03/02/2009 03:21:18 »

Sorry?

Dege · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/02/2009 03:26:21 »

ok last question how would you use it. I mean how would you point it and make it hit the object you want?

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #11 on:** 03/02/2009 03:29:47 »

If you wanna do something like transmutate radioactive elements like thorium into uranium, radium will have to be used as a radioactive source, don't know where you're going to get some though...

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/02/2009 03:30:59 »

Also, you might want to try and use berrylium instead of aluminium as it will put out more neutrons...

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/02/2009 03:31:55 »

Quote from: Dege on 03/02/2009 03:26:21

ok last question how would you use it. I mean how would you point it and make it hit the object you want?

What do you mean: how would would you point it?[

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Dege · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/02/2009 03:37:26 »

well when you fire at something you have to aim it don't you? i don't see how it would hit the element you are trying to transmutate if the neutrons are being kicked back into the lead pipe?

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #15 on:** 03/02/2009 03:38:38 »

But that is not how it works! Let me explain....

Dege · « **Reply #16 on:** 03/02/2009 03:40:33 »

ok please do [

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Chemistry4me · « **Reply #17 on:** 03/02/2009 03:43:04 »

The lead tube (and the plug) will block the radiation leaving it so there is only one place to exit the tube: the small hole. Alpha-particles will flow out of this hole, when they come into contact with the nuclei of the aluminium, the atoms will absorb these particles and through some weird (but not unexpected) reaction begin to release a steady stream of neutrons.
That is how your neutron gun works.

Dege · « **Reply #18 on:** 03/02/2009 03:45:31 »

OK i think i get it [

] so the neutrons don't go back into the pipe they are kicked out the other end of the aluminum

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #19 on:** 03/02/2009 03:46:41 »

Correct [

] but berylium would be even better!

can a neutron gun be made?

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