Negative ion-driven associated particle neutron generator [Negative Ion-Based Associated Particle Neutron Generator]

Journal Article · Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.09.097· OSTI ID:1344467

Antolak, A. J. ^[1]; Leung, K. N. ^[1]; Morse, D. H. ^[1]; Donovan, D. C. ^[1]; Chames, J. M. ^[1]; Whaley, J. A. ^[1]; Buchenauer, D. A. ^[1]; Chen, A. X. ^[1]; Hausladen, P. A. ^[2]; Liang, F. ^[2]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

We describe an associated particle neutron generator that employs a negative ion source to produce high neutron flux from a small source size. Furthermore, negative ions produced in an rf-driven plasma source are extracted through a small aperture to form a beam which bombards a positively biased, high voltage target electrode. Electrons co-extracted with the negative ions are removed by a permanent magnet electron filter. The use of negative ions enables high neutron output (100% atomic ion beam), high quality imaging (small neutron source size), and reliable operation (no high voltage breakdowns). Finally, the neutron generator can operate in either pulsed or continuous-wave (cw) mode and has been demonstrated to produce 10⁶ D-D n/s (equivalent to similar to 10⁸ D-T n/s) from a 1 mm-diameter neutron source size to facilitate high fidelity associated particle imaging.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000; AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1344467
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1324153; OSTI ID: 1359623
• Report Number(s): SAND-2015-5866J; PII: S0168900215011687
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 806; ISSN 0168-9002
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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