Nuclear fusion target. Scientist Joel Galin holds particle beam targets by the Orion detector (red) for an experiment to convert chemical elements fro

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Nuclear fusion target. Scientist Joel Galin holds particle beam targets by the Orion detector (red) for an experiment to convert chemical elements from one to another, such as from lead into gold. Here, the targets around the rim of the circular mount in Galin's hand are made of gold leaf. The targets will be exposed to a beam of high energy particles. Some of these particles will collide with some of the gold nuclei, causing nuclear reactions which convert (transmutate) the gold into a variety of other elements. Only a very small proportion of the nuclei will be converted in this way. Photographed at the Large Heavy Ion Accelerator (GANIL) facility in Caen, France.

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Size: 2492px × 3543px
Photo credit: © PHILIPPE PLAILLY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: accelerator, alchemy, beam, detecto, detector, detectors, france, french, fusion, galin, ganil, gold, heavyâion, joel, large, modern, orion, particle, physics, research, scientist, target, transmutation