Particle Accelleration Controls Ghostly Activity..... In Theory!?

As All Hallows Eve approaches, vampires, witches and things-that-go-bump-in-the-night are at the forefront of every kid's (and us bigger kids) imaginations.  A crucifix on the door and a garlic rosary might scare off old Dracula, but what about the ghosts and ghouls that aren't so frightened of a humble vegetable? Who ya gonna call? 

Ghostbusters use a specialized set of equipment to aid in the capture and containment of ghosts.

The Proton Pack, designed by Dr. Egon Spengler, is an unlicensed, man-portable, nuclear particle accelerator system, that is used to create a particle beam composed of protons which polarizes with the negatively charged energy of a ghost, allowing it to be held in the stream while active. The beam allows a Ghostbuster to contain and hold "negatively charged ectoplasmic entities". The stream "lassos" the entity until it can be contained in a trap. The trap is a box with a hinged lid, remote-controlled by a simple pedal switch, attached to the end of the box by a long cable. When a ghost is brought close to the trap in the particle beam, the ghost trap is activated, its lid opens, and a force field draws the ghost inside.

In order to understand the technology behind the proton pack, you need to understand the basics of quantum physics...... At its most basic (and let’s face it, that’s about our level) - all materials in the universe are composed of atoms, with each atom consisting of three individual subatomic particles: protons, (positive) neutrons, (neutral) and electrons (negative). It’s pretty tough to split an atom, but it can be done.....

As the proton pack is initially powered, the booster begins to provide heavily-charged power to the system; accentuators just below the booster cylinder provide amplification, and alignment of power for use in particle collision within the cyclotron. (FYI - A cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator in which charged particles accelerate outwards from the centre along a spiral path. You probably knew that already…).

As particles are fed into the cyclotron, they are guided via alternating magnetic currents through the spiral, increasing particle speed exponentially. At the point of ideal speed, the atoms are ‘smashed’, breaking them down into their individual parts. As the loose particles are guided through an electromagnetic channel to the neutrona wand, they go through a filter, removing the negatively-charged electrons and neutrally charged neutrons. As the neutrona wand is fired, the stream of positively-charged protons is released from the wand tip, and the “negatively charged ectoplasmic entity”, more commonly called ‘a ghost’, is caught and trapped.

"Theres something very important I forgot to tell you! Don't cross the streams... It would be bad!"

Of course, this is all just theoretical. As are Ectoplasmic Entities. Or are they?

It doesn’t matter - I’m with Ray Parker Jr. on this one.

I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost!!