IEC Fusion Reactor Mark 3 Microbolometer

Overview:

An L3 thermal eye 2500AS microbolometer (thermal imager) with 160x120 resolution and 2620AS DSP board are set up with a Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) viewport / macro lens to allow imaging of the fusor interior in the 7-14um wavelength range.

ZnSe Macro Viewport (8/22/2013)

2" OD ZnSe lens, 3/8" thick 10.5"FL

ZnSe Macro Viewport (8/22/2013)

Machined aluminum CF flange to hold lens

ZnSe Macro Viewport (8/22/2013)

Holder and lens.

ZnSe Macro Viewport (8/22/2013)

Lens mounted in holder

ZnSe Macro Viewport (8/22/2013)

Viewport assembly mounted on fusor.

Thermal imager (8/22/2013)

Thermal eye 2500AS core mounted in a camera case

Thermal imager (8/22/2013)

Thermal eye 2500AS core mounted in a camera case

Thermal imager (8/22/2013)

Thermal eye 2500AS core mounted in a camera case

Thermal imager (8/22/2013)

Core and DSP board

Thermal imager (8/22/2013)

Grid after a short uncooled test.

Thermal imager (5/24/2014)

Preliminary tests with co2 laser and ISI 77 thermal imager

Thermal imager (5/24/2014)

Laser controller

Thermal imager (5/24/2014)

Preliminary tests with co2 laser and ISI 77 thermal imager

Thermal imager (5/24/2014)

Preliminary tests with co2 laser and ISI 77 thermal imager

Thermal imager (5/24/2014)

Beam through diverging lens onto wall imaged with ISI-77 thermal camera.

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Face plate adapter to 30mm thorlabs cage system.

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Face plate adapter to 30mm thorlabs cage system.

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Face plate adapter to 30mm thorlabs cage system.

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Face plate adapter to 30mm thorlabs cage system.

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Face plate adapter to 30mm thorlabs cage system.

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

ZnSe diverging lens

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

ZnSe diverging lens

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

ZnSe diverging lens

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

ZnSe diverging lens, stack of 2

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

ZnSe diverging lens, stack of 2

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

ZnSe diverging lenses and UV lamp for thermal image plate

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Thermal image plate set

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Thermal image plate

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Thermal image plate with unexpanded laser beam.

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Unexpanded beam viewed on thermal image plate

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Unexpanded beam viewed on thermal image plate

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Expanded beam viewed on thermal image plate

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Expanded beam viewed with thermal-eye 2500 thermal imager

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Expanded beam viewed with thermal-eye 2500 thermal imager

Thermal imager (7/4/2014)

Beam through diverging lens onto wall imaged with L3 thermal-eye 2500 thermal camera.

Thermal imager (7/4/2014)

Beam through diverging lens onto wall imaged with L3 thermal-eye 2500 thermal camera.

Thermal imager (7/4/2014)

Beam through diverging lens onto wall imaged with L3 thermal-eye 2500 thermal camera.

Thermal imager (7/4/2014)

Beam through diverging lens onto wall imaged with L3 thermal-eye 2500 thermal camera.

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Beam expander system

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Beam expander system

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Beam expander system

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Beam expander system with extended cage

CO2 Laser (7/4/2014)

Beam expander system with extended cage

CO2 Laser (7/7/2014)

Beam expander output lens, tube, and spacers.

CO2 Laser (7/7/2014)

Beam expander output lens, tube, and spacers.

CO2 Laser (7/7/2014)

Beam expander output lens, tube, and spacers.

CO2 Laser (7/7/2014)

Beam expanded by 6x, now parallel

CO2 Laser (7/7/2014)

Beam expanded by 6x, now parallel

Thermal imager (7/7/2014)

Beam through 6x beam expander onto wall imaged with L3 thermal-eye 2500 thermal camera.

Thermal imager (7/7/2014)

Beam through 6x beam expander onto wall imaged with L3 thermal-eye 2500 thermal camera.

Thermal imager (7/4/2014)

T=30% germanium output coupler with L3 thermal-eye 2500 thermal camera.

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Beam dump

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Beam dump

Thermal imager (7/12/2014)

9x expanded beam in beam dump

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Beam expanded to 9x on thermal image plate

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Right angle turning mirror and cage mount

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Cage rods

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Right angle turning mirror and cage mount

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Right angle turning mirror and cage mount

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Beam expanded to 9x, reflected with turning mirror, and displayed on thermal image plate

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Core output lens

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Right angle mount

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Right angle mount on core output lens

CO2 Laser (7/12/2014)

Core input lens

Thermal imager (7/12/2014)

Beam through 9x beam expander onto wall imaged with L3 thermal-eye 2500 thermal camera.

Thermal imager (7/17/2014)

Beam expander assembly to reduce beam to size of optical detector

Thermal imager (7/17/2014)

Beam expander assembly to reduce beam to size of optical detector

Thermal imager (7/17/2014)

Beam expander assembly to reduce beam to size of optical detector

Thermal imager (7/17/2014)

Test setup, soldering iron as heat source collimated through germanium lens

Thermal imager (7/17/2014)

Shadow viewed on detector

CO2 Laser (7/19/2014)

Output beam without iris fully open

CO2 Laser (7/19/2014)

Output beam without iris clipping edges of beam between two lenses in beam expander

CO2 Laser (7/19/2014)

Synrad H48-1 with a 9x beam expander that has an internal adjustable iris to prevent reflection of the over expanded beam off the internal walls of the lens tube that cause a halo around the primary beam. Imaged with a thermal eye 2500AS

Thermal imager (7/19/2014)

Germanium rear coupler 99.5% reflective (200x attenuation of beam)

Thermal imager (7/19/2014)

Mount for coupler to adapt to thorlabs 1" tube

Thermal imager (7/19/2014)

Germanium rear coupler in mount

Thermal imager (7/19/2014)

Germanium rear coupler mounted on thermal imager for 200x beam attenuation

Thermal imager (7/19/2014)

Laser modulation waveform from arbitrary waveform generator, 1khz square wave 6% duty cycle

Thermal imager (7/19/2014)

Laser test setup with arbitrary waveform generator controlling laser

Thermal imager (7/19/2014)

Shadow in laser beam

Thermal imager (7/19/2014)

Shadow in laser beam

Thermal imager (7/19/2014)

Synrad H48-1 with a 9x beam expander bench test. Shadow from soldering iron tip cast in beam. Imaged with a thermal eye 2500AS, 99.5% reflective rear coupler from laser cutter used as 200x attenuator, laser run at ~20% power and 1kHz square wave with 6% duty cycle.

Laser setup (7/19/2014)

Laser positioned next to fusor

Laser setup (7/19/2014)

Beam aligned with input window

Laser setup (7/19/2014)

Thermal imager looking through output window

Laser setup (7/19/2014)

Shadow cast by central grid

Laser setup (7/19/2014)

Shadow cast by central grid

Laser setup (7/19/2014)

Synrad H48-1 with a 9x beam expander projected through IEC fusor core with no plasma. Shadow from ion accelerating grid cast in beam. Imaged with a thermal eye 2500AS, 99.5% reflective rear coupler from laser cutter used as 200x attenuator, laser run at ~20% power and 1kHz square wave with 6% duty cycle.

Laser setup (7/19/2014)

Synrad H48-1 with a 9x beam expander projected through IEC fusor core with no plasma. Shadow from ion accelerating grid cast in beam. Imaged with a thermal eye 2500AS, 99.5% reflective rear coupler from laser cutter used as 200x attenuator, laser run at ~20% power and 1kHz square wave with 6% duty cycle.

Fusor setup (7/30/2014)

Plasma operation with 4 ion sources

Fusor setup (7/30/2014)

Plasma operation with 4 ion sources

Thermal imager (7/30/2014)

Grid with coolant flow on

Thermal imager (7/30/2014)

Grid after several seconds with coolant flow off

Laser test (7/30/2014)

10.6um beam through plasma, no attenuation seen.

Plasma (8/24/2014)

Image of plasma at 5mTorr

Thermal imager (8/24/2014)

320x240 resolution thermal imaging of IEC fusor grid with coolant flow on and off

Thermal imager (8/24/2014)

160x120 resolution thermal imaging of IEC fusor grid with coolant flow on and off with temperature readout

Thermal imager (8/24/2014)

320x240 resolution thermal imaging of IEC fusor interior

Thermal imager (8/24/2014)

160x120 resolution thermal imaging of IEC fusor grid insulator

Interferometer (8/29/2014)

T=30% germanium mirror and mirror mount

Interferometer (8/29/2014)

Mirror mount and beam guide.

Interferometer (8/29/2014)

Mounted on core

Interferometer (8/29/2014)

View of grid reflected off of mirror

Interferometer (8/29/2014)

Carbon fiber tube to stiffen interferometer reference beam arm

Interferometer (8/29/2014)

Carbon fiber tube to stiffen interferometer reference beam arm

Interferometer (8/29/2014)

Carbon fiber tube to stiffen interferometer reference beam arm

Interferometer (8/29/2014)

Turning mirrors and mounts. Mirrors are 1.75x0.375" gold coated silicon.

Interferometer (9/19/2014)

Turning mirrors and mounts. Adapter to optics cage system

Interferometer (9/19/2014)

Mirrors mounted on optics cage

Interferometer (9/19/2014)

Mirrors mounted on optics cage

Interferometer (9/19/2014)

Mirrors mounted on optics cage

Interferometer (9/19/2014)

View of laser beam splitter through reference arm.

Interferometer (9/19/2014)

View of laser beam splitter through reference arm. Close up.

Interferometer (9/19/2014)

View of laser beam splitter through measurement arm.

Interferometer (9/19/2014)

Thermal imager mount and adapter to 30mm thorlabs cage system.

Interferometer (9/19/2014)

Thermal imager mount and adapter to 30mm thorlabs cage system.

Interferometer (11/8/2014)

Seek thermal imager

Interferometer (11/8/2014)

Adapter to mount to thorlabs cage system.

Interferometer (11/8/2014)

Seek thermal imager mounted on thorlabs cage with beam condensor and 200x power attenuator

Interferometer (11/8/2014)

200x power attenuator

Interferometer (11/8/2014)

Imaging CO2 laser beam ~5W, 1kHz, 6% duty cycle

Interferometer (11/8/2014)

Imaging CO2 laser beam

Interferometer (11/8/2014)

Beam profile

Interferometer (11/8/2014)

Beam profile

Interferometer (5/1/2016)

Some burn inon the inside coating of the ZnSe viewports was observed when running with deuterium(doesn't happen with air). The D- ions comming from the grid are not readily deflected by the magnetic beam deflectors.

Interferometer (5/1/2016)

The ZnSe windows have been removed and the damage analyzed. Both top and bottom windows showed deposition from sputtering considerably more visible then that on the glass viewports.

Interferometer (5/1/2016)

This is likely due to the deposited material interfering with the BBAR(broad band antireflective) dielectric coating on the window causing considerably more change in transmitted light.

Interferometer (5/1/2016)

Examination of the window surface under a microscope showed pitting of the BBAR coating where the D- beam was hitting the window.

Interferometer (5/1/2016)

Subsequent cleaning of the window was able to remove most of the BAR coating(and the deposition with it). Post cleaning the window is transparent again.

None of the pitting or damage extends into the ZnSe material, it appears only the BBAR coating is strongly affected by D- bombardment, however to err on the side of safety, the ZnSe windows were not re-installed to prevent any potential sputtering of zinc from the now unprotected window surface into the vacuum system.

Interferometer (5/1/2016)

By attempting to reproduce any experiments or devices listed on this domain in part or in whole, you agree to hold me harmless against any lawsuit or liability.

Copyright © 1998 - 2005 by Andrew Seltzman. All rights reserved.