A beam dump is a device that absorbs a beam. This may be a beam of photons ("light") such as a laser beam, or a beam of electrically charged particles. In physics, the photon (from Greek φως, phōs, meaning light) is the quantum of the electromagnetic field; for instance, light. ... // Experiment using a (likely argon) laser. ... In physics, a particle is an object, or body, with only a few degrees-of-freedom, including position, and perhaps orientation in space. ...

Optical beam dumps

An optical beam dump is an optical element used to absorb a beam of light. For low power systems, this can be as simple as a piece of black velvet glued onto a stiff backing, but higher power beam dumps must often be designed carefully to avoid back-reflection, overheating, or excessive noise. Table of Opticks, 1728 Cyclopaedia Optics ( appearance or look in ancient Greek) is a branch of physics that describes the behavior and properties of light and the interaction of light with matter. ... Velvet is a type of tufted fabric in which the cut threads are very evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it its distinct feel. ...

A commonly available type of beam dump suitable for most medium-power lasers is a cone of aluminum with greater diameter than the beam, anodized to a black color and enclosed in a canister with a black, ribbed interior. Only the point of the cone is exposed to the beam head-on; mostly, incoming light grazes the cone at an angle, which eases performance requirements. Any reflections from this black surface are then absorbed by the canister. The ribs both help to make light less likely to escape, and improve heat transfer to the surrounding air. // Experiment using a (likely argon) laser. ... Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ... These inexpensive carabiners have an anodised aluminum surface, and come in many colours. ...

Extremely high-power beam dumps have been made using water with controlled amounts of colored salts (e.g., copper (II) sulfate) to give a moderate absorbance of the beam. The water is circulated through a long pipe with a window at one end, and chilled using a heat exchanger. Impact of a drop of water. ... A magnified crystal of a salt (halite/sodium chloride) In chemistry, a salt is any ionic compound composed of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions so that the product is neutral and without a net charge. ... Copper (II) sulfate (CuSO4) is the most common copper salt, made by the action of sulfuric acid on the base copper oxide. ... A heat exchanger is a device built for efficient heat transfer from one fluid to another, whether the fluids are separated by a solid wall so that they never mix, or the fluids are directly contacted. ...

Charged particle beam dumps

The purpose of a charged particle beam dump is to safely absorb a beam of charged particles such as electrons, protons, nuclei, or ions. This is necessary when, for example, a circular particle accelerator has to be shut down. Dealing with the heat deposited can be an issue, since the powers of the beams to be absorbed can run into the megawatts. Properties The electron (also called negatron, commonly represented as e−) is a subatomic particle. ... For alternative meanings see proton (disambiguation). ... A semi-accurate depiction of the helium atom. ... An ion is an atom or group of atoms that normally are electrically neutral and achieve their status as an ion by loss (or addition) of an electron. ... A 1960s single stage 2 MeV linear Van de Graaff accelerator, here opened for maintenance A particle accelerator is a device that uses electric and/or magnetic fields to propel electrically charged particles to high speeds. ... The megawatt (symbol: MW) is a unit for measuring power corresponding to one million (106) watts. ...

Materials used for such beam dumps include blocks of copper, aluminum, carbon, beryllium, and tungsten. The block often has a long conical hole where the beam hits it, so as to spread the heating over a larger region of the block. If the beam to be absorbed is high powered, these blocks may be up to several meters long and water cooled. Pools of mercury have also been used. General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Atomic mass 63. ... Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ... General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ... General Name, Symbol, Number beryllium, Be, 4 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 2, s Appearance white-gray metallic Atomic mass 9. ... General Name, Symbol, Number tungsten, W, 74 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6, 6, d Appearance grayish white, lustrous Atomic mass 183. ... General Name, Symbol, Number mercury, Hg, 80 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 6, d Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 200. ...

If the particles in the beam are energetic enough, induced radioactivity, production of neutrons by spalling, radiation embrittlement, and production of secondary particles can also be issues. Considerable quantities of material may be put around the beam dump, especially "downstream" of the beam dump, to serve as radiation shielding. Also, the beam may be carefully not aimed at anything critical (such as people or particle detectors), and angled down into the earth before it hits the beam dump, so that dirt serves as a radiation shield. This article is about the scientific concept of energy. ... Induced radioactivity is when a previously stable material has been made radioactive by exposure to specific radiation. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In nuclear physics, spallation is the process in which a heavy nucleus emits a large number of nucleons as a result of being hit by a high-energy proton, thus greatly reducing its atomic weight. ... Radiation in Physics is the process of emitting energy in the form of waves or particles. ... Embrittlement is a loss of elasticity of a material, making it brittle. ... Radiation protection, sometimes known as radiological protection, is the science of protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of both particle radiation and ionizing radiation. ... The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is an example of a large particle detector. ...