Can a 14-Year-Old Legally Build a Cyclotron?

[Zachel42]

Ok , so I was wondering if you could legally build a cyclotron accelerator , I am fourteen years old , so if there are any permits required , would they be accessible by a fourteen year old? , I realize it has the potential to produce ionization radiation , and that's the part that i think i might need a permit for , and if i do (assuming building one in the first place is legal at all) would that permit be accessible to a fourteen year old ? , If not , would I be able to have a parent acquire that permit and I still operate it ? , I know it would take a long time to build , which is why i wish to start now , because i do (if within legal boundaries) wish to use it as my senior project , I have read several books on particle accelerators ,and i believe i (along with a few friends ) would be able to , but before i proceed ,i want to make sure I am not committing a crime .

 

[Zachel42]

sorry if i posted this in the wrong thread , i just assumed it would be quantum mechanics because it has to do with accelerating ionized hydrogen

 

[your_mom]

First issue- cost...it will cost quite a pretty penny to acquire the raw materials needed.
Second issue- age/inexperience...i will not judge wether or not you have the know;edge to build this machine, but do to the dangers present, and possible miss-calculation on part of the third party, eg- friends, I don't know safe it would be... My advice...just wait.
I like your enthusiasm though, keep it up, if physics is your thing, STICK TO IT!

 

[jtbell]

Every now and then we have a "building a cyclotron" thread. Here are a couple of the more recent ones:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=571644

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=572142

 

[Zachel42]

Thanks ,but miscalculation wouldn't be a problem with the 3rd party, as much as it would be with me , luckily I have a friend who is a genius when it comes to mathamatics , as in solving equations given to my father(who is in colleauge) , in linear algebra faster than my father can , which is really surprising considoring were both in the 7th grade ,Im more of a hardware and engineering guy , than a mathmatician(the highest level math I've done is basic calc ,( partial differetiation , and a bit of integration) , but costwise , 7000$-8000$ , is the budget(at the moment) which probably isn't near enough , do u think you could give us a cost estimate ? , and thank you for the encouragement , and your probably right , were too young to be building something like that , but if achieved , I am sure we would get a nifty grade on our senior project , i have looked at some previous designs and it doesn't seem too complex , the manipulation of the magnetic field might be the toughest part , but again the 3rd parties at my disposal are extremely smart,but all in all (asuming we could do it in all legality , and costwise)i believe we would be able to .

 

[Zachel42]

Oh and the part we might need some advice on , we wouldn't know where to start when it comes to the vacuum , any advice?

 

[Vanadium 50]

First, if you can't follow the forum rules in regards to text speak, there is no reason to believe you will follow the necessary procedure to do this safely.

Second, there are licensing issues, and a minor will not be able to get a license. If we don't let 14 year olds drive a car, do you really think we will let them do nuclear experiments?

Finally, it's evident from your posts that you don't have the knowledge and experience to do this safely. Helping you injure yourself or others would be irresponsible on our parts.

Thread closed.