Characteristics of a RF-Driven Ion Source for a Neutron Generator Used for Associated Particle Imaging

Journal Article · Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3120112· OSTI ID:21289607

Ying, Wu; Leung, K -N ^[1]; Hurley, John P ^[2]; Qing, Ji; Kwan, Joe ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 (United States)
2. Special Technologies Laboratory, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (United States)

We present recent work on a prototype compact neutron generator for associated particle imaging (API). API uses alpha particles that are produced simultaneously with neutrons in the deuterium-tritium ({sup 2}D({sup 3}T,n){sup 4}{alpha}) fusion reaction to determine the direction of the neutrons upon exiting the reaction. This method determines the spatial position of each neutron interaction and requires the neutrons to be generated from a small spot in order to achieve high spatial resolution. The ion source for API is designed to produce a focused ion beam with a beam spot diameter of 1-mm or less on the target. We use an axial type neutron generator with a predicted neutron yield of 10{sup 8} n/s for a 50 {mu}A D/T ion beam current accelerated to 80 kV. The generator utilizes an RF planar spiral antenna at 13.56 MHz to create a highly efficient inductively coupled plasma at the ion source. Experimental results show that beams with an atomic ion fraction of over 80% can be obtained while utilizing only 100 watts of RF power in the ion source. A single acceleration gap with a secondary electron suppression electrode is used in the tube. Experimental results from ion source testing, such as the current density, atomic ion fraction, electron temperature, and electron density will be discussed.

• OSTI ID: 21289607
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1099, Issue 1; Conference: CAARI 2008: 12. international conference on application of accelerators in research and industry, Fort Worth, TX (United States), 10-15 Aug 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3120112; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
ACCELERATION
ALPHA PARTICLES
BEAM PRODUCTION
BEAM PROFILES
CURRENT DENSITY
DEUTERIUM
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
FAST NEUTRONS
ION BEAMS
ION SOURCES
MHZ RANGE
NEUTRON GENERATORS
NUCLEAR REACTION YIELD
RF SYSTEMS
SPATIAL RESOLUTION
TRITIUM