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Title: Development of a Time-tagged Neutron Source for SNM Detection

Abstract

Associated particle imaging (API) is a powerful technique for special nuclear material (SNM) detection and characterization of fissile material configurations. A sealed-tube neutron generator has been under development by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to reduce the beam spot size on the neutron production target to 1 mm in diameter for a several-fold increase in directional resolution and simultaneously increases the maximum attainable neutron flux. A permanent magnet 2.45 GHz microwave-driven ion source has been adopted in this time-tagged neutron source. This type of ion source provides a high plasma density that allows the use of a sub-millimeter aperture for the extraction of a sufficient ion beam current and lets us achieve a much reduced beam spot size on target without employing active focusing. The design of this API generator uses a custom-made radial high voltage insulator to minimize source to neutron production target distance and to provide for a simple ion source cooling arrangement. Preliminary experimental results showed that more than 100 µA of deuterium ions have been extracted, and the beam diameter on the neutron production target is around 1 mm.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Special Technology Laboratory, Santa Barbara, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development (NA-22)
OSTI Identifier:
1208058
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-05CH11231
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physics Procedia
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 66; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 1875-3892
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; neutron generator; associated particle imaging; SNM detection

Citation Formats

Ji, Qing, Ludewigt, Bernhard, Wallig, Joe, Waldron, Will, and Tinsley, Jim. Development of a Time-tagged Neutron Source for SNM Detection. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/j.phpro.2015.05.015.
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Ji, Qing, Ludewigt, Bernhard, Wallig, Joe, Waldron, Will, & Tinsley, Jim. Development of a Time-tagged Neutron Source for SNM Detection. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2015.05.015
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Ji, Qing, Ludewigt, Bernhard, Wallig, Joe, Waldron, Will, and Tinsley, Jim. Thu . "Development of a Time-tagged Neutron Source for SNM Detection". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2015.05.015. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1208058.
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@article{osti_1208058,
title = {Development of a Time-tagged Neutron Source for SNM Detection},
author = {Ji, Qing and Ludewigt, Bernhard and Wallig, Joe and Waldron, Will and Tinsley, Jim},
abstractNote = {Associated particle imaging (API) is a powerful technique for special nuclear material (SNM) detection and characterization of fissile material configurations. A sealed-tube neutron generator has been under development by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to reduce the beam spot size on the neutron production target to 1 mm in diameter for a several-fold increase in directional resolution and simultaneously increases the maximum attainable neutron flux. A permanent magnet 2.45 GHz microwave-driven ion source has been adopted in this time-tagged neutron source. This type of ion source provides a high plasma density that allows the use of a sub-millimeter aperture for the extraction of a sufficient ion beam current and lets us achieve a much reduced beam spot size on target without employing active focusing. The design of this API generator uses a custom-made radial high voltage insulator to minimize source to neutron production target distance and to provide for a simple ion source cooling arrangement. Preliminary experimental results showed that more than 100 µA of deuterium ions have been extracted, and the beam diameter on the neutron production target is around 1 mm.},
doi = {10.1016/j.phpro.2015.05.015},
journal = {Physics Procedia},
number = C,
volume = 66,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Thu Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2015.05.015
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Works referenced in this record:

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journal, August 2007

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journal, February 2012

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conference, January 2011

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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    An Associated Particle Imaging System for Soil-Carbon Measurements
    preprint, January 2019

    An all-digital associated particle imaging system for the 3D determination of isotopic distributions
    text, January 2020

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