Looking to build an impressive project for my college application

[guss]

Hey all, I am currently looking to build something for fun, and to add to my college application/resume. I was thinking about building a particle accelerator, and did a good amount of research into that, and it seems like it would be expensive and complicated. However, I am still open to that idea, as I'm sure there are other types of particle accelerators that are easier and cheaper to build.

But, before I begin building, I want to be sure that I am building the best and most interesting thing. I don't want this to be super expensive to build (sub $600 is a rough estimate), and I don't want it to take ages or be very large. I am willing to design my own thing if there are not any plans on the internet, or what have you.

Also, what about 'fusers'? What is generally considered one of the easiest, and cheapest type to build (assuming the model is safe :p)?

Sorry if I sound blunt in this post, but there's really not much else to say. So, anyone have any ideas? I'm open to pretty much anything. Alternatively, some ideas for the particle accelerator and how to build it would be great.

Thanks.

 

[RocketSci5KN]

How about a sonoluminescence device?

 

[guss]

How about a sonoluminescence device?

Maybe, I just looked into it and it sounds interesting.

What about a "demo" nuclear fusion reactor? One that just creates plasma and doesn't fuse?

 

[Jasongreat]

Maybe, I just looked into it and it sounds interesting.

What about a "demo" nuclear fusion reactor? One that just creates plasma and doesn't fuse?

"www.fusor.net"[/URL]

 

[guss]

"www.fusor.net"[/URL][/QUOTE]
Yeah, I have been looking at that.

Do you guys think that building something like a model nuclear fusor, that just produces plasma, would be impressive to colleges? Even though it would be fun to build anyway.