Compact neutron source development at LBNL

Conference · Wed Jul 25 04:00:00 EDT 2001

OSTI ID:785259

Reijonen, Jani ^[1]; Lou, Tak Pui; Tolmachoff, Bryan; Leung, K N

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1. LBNL Library

A compact neutron generator based on D-D or D-T fusion reactions is being developed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The deuterium or tritium ions are produced in a radio-frequency (RF) driven multicusp plasma source. Seven beamlets are extracted and are accelerated to energy of 100 keV by means of a three-electrode electrostatic accelerator column. The ion beam then impinges on a titanium coated copper target where either the 2.4 MeV D-D or 14 MeV D-T neutrons are generated by fusion reaction. The development of the neutron tube is divided into three phases. First, the accelerator column is operated at hydrogen beam intensity of 15 mA. Second phase consists of deuterium beam runs at pulsed, low duty cycle 150 mA operation. The third phase consists of deuterium or tritium operation at 1.5 A beam current. Phase one is completed and the results of hydrogen beam testing are discussed. Low duty cycle 150 mA deuterium operation is being investigated. Neutron flux will be measured. Finally the phase three operation and the advance neutron generator designs are described.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director, Office of Science (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 785259
• Report Number(s): LBNL--47265
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
BEAM CURRENTS
DESIGN
DEUTERIUM IONS
ELECTROSTATIC ACCELERATORS
ION BEAMS
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON GENERATORS
NEUTRON SOURCES
OPERATION
TRITIUM IONS