Can a 2m Linac Accelerate Electrons to 1.5MeV for Positron Production?

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A 2-meter long linac can potentially accelerate electrons to 1.5 MeV, enabling positron production through pair production, although achieving this with only electrostatic acceleration may be challenging. While focusing mechanisms are not necessary for such a small setup, using a Van de Graaff generator is recommended over a flyback transformer for generating high voltages. Suitable targets for producing high-energy photons include materials with heavy nuclei, such as tungsten, although safety concerns are paramount. The discussion emphasizes the dangers of building such devices at home and the legal implications involved. Ultimately, the thread was closed due to the focus on hazardous activities and safety issues.
Pseudo Epsilon
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Hi all, this is my first time posting.

This may seem too vauge but could a 2m long linac accelerating electrons (with electron gun as source) achive 1.5MeV? I.e. Could it make positrons via pair production? (0.511MeV For electron same for positron plus a litle extra to be safe) asuming it uses quadropole and sextupole magnets (copper) liquid nitrogen cooled. Electrostaticly acelerated via muliple staged electrodes (max voltage=~100 000v). Thanx to you geniuses in advace
 
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The 2-mile long linac you may be speaking of was the one at SLAC, which achieved 90 GeV center-of-mass energy.
 
i meant two meters. 1.5 Mev posible using only electrostatic aceleration?
 
Sorry, my mistake. You're actually thinking of building a table-top linac?? Good luck generating and storing the positrons. Good luck getting the beams to collide. And don't forget to watch out for the radiation produced when the beams hit the backstop!
 
1.5 MeV with 2 meters of separation is possible with electrostatic acceleration (but 3-4m would be easier), and you can use the 1.5MeV-electrons to do pair production afterwards. Focusing is neither necessary nor practical with such a small setup, I think. You just need a good insulation and a Van-de-Graaff generator. If you want to do something with the positrons, the setup will grow.
 
thanks! I wasn't planning to do anything with the positrons yet. Thanks for not being harsh. If i may ask what target should i use and could i detect the positrons?
 
oh, and could i use a flyback transformer coupled to a cfl circuit instead of a van de graff generator?
 
As target: probably something where the electrons can produce high-energetic photons, and those can be converted to electron/positron pairs afterwards - a material with heavy nuclei? Gold is expensive, lead is toxic.
I wasn't planning to do anything with the positrons yet.
This is nothing you should do at home. It is very dangerous, and probably illegal.
 
i will check with my local police station. But is there any cheap way to confirm positrons have been produced? And how about tungsten for a target?
 
  • #10
i will check with my local police station.
The police station won't tell you how to avoid getting killed, or injured.
But is there any cheap way to confirm positrons have been produced?
There is. If you know enough to build such a device safely, you will know the answer to that question.
 
  • #11
but a device with a 100% acuracy that only detects positrons? And by the way, i always do my research once i know what to research. I am familiar with high voltage safty as i have built a jacobs ladder and tesla coil in the past. I do already have lead-impregnated glass for the hard radiation from a recycling company.
 
  • #12
so if you could just tell me the name of the detector needed. Please.
 
  • #13
Pseudo Epsilon -- We do not allow discussions of dangerous activities here on the PF. This thread is closed. Please do not ask questions like this here again.
 

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