Maxwell Stoughton
M|S
Ultra High Vacuum Chamber Development
The Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) system is under development to support experiments from both WEMPEC and the Ludios research group.
The chamber is equipped with two instrumentation ports, a ferrofluid rotary manipulation feedthrough, and six 10 kV electrical feedthroughs.
Inside the UHV chamber, six variable capacitors convert mechanical rotation into displacement current. These capacitors are then vacuum-insulated to prevent arcing. Rotary motion is transmitted through the chamber walls via a ferrofluid bearing.
Interactive UHV 3D Model | Solidworks Visualize | 2023
Multi-Plate Variable Capacitor Design
Inside the UHV chamber, six variable capacitors convert mechanical rotation into displacement current. These capacitors are then vacuum-insulated to prevent arcing. Rotary motion is transmitted through the chamber walls via a ferrofluid bearing.
Working Chamber Prototype
This vacuum insulation allows our capacitors to utilize a multiplate form factor.
Typical insulators would otherwise lead to a lower breakdown voltage and a hightened boundary layer effect. Overall worsening the generators efficiency ratio.
While there is still much work to be done, our current air based model has shown promise. The chamber is currently under machine review with the Kurt J. Lesker company and a new verison of the capacitors is under review for UHV development.