The photograph above is a vacuum chamber used for Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion (IECF). The chamber and all associated equipment was designed and constructed by the author, Joe Zambelli. The system currently operates on pure Deuterium gas at a maximum acceleration voltage of about 45 kV. It is believed to be the third amateur built neutron producing system of its type. The highest recorded neutron output is 675,000 neutrons/sec, at a voltage of 42 kV and a current of 18 mA.
The IEC approach is one of the simplest methods of achieving nuclear
fusion, and one of the few methods within the reach of the amateur scientist.
The pages below give some information on design, construction, and operation
of these devices.
For another neat, nuclear-related project, take a look at this design for a Diffusion Cloud Chamber.