Magnetically insulated diode for generating pulsed neutron and gamma ray emissions

Patent · 01 January 1987

OSTI ID:866290

Kuswa, Glenn W ^[1]; Leeper, Ramon J ^[1]

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1. Albuquerque, NM

A magnetically insulated diode employs a permanent magnet to generate a magnetic insulating field between a spaced anode and cathode in a vacuum. An ion source is provided in the vicinity of the anode and used to liberate ions for acceleration toward the cathode. The ions are virtually unaffected by the magnetic field and are accelerated into a target for generating an nuclear reaction. The ions and target material may be selected to generate either neutrons or gamma ray emissions from the reaction of the accelerated ions and the target. In another aspect of the invention, a field coil is employed as part of one of the electrodes. A plasma prefill is provided between the electrodes prior to the application of a pulsating potential to one of the electrodes. The field coil multiplies the applied voltage for high diode voltage applications. The diode may be used to generate a .sup.7 Li(p,.gamma.).sup.8 Be reaction to produce 16.5 MeV gamma emission.

• Research Organization: AT & T CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• Assignee: United State of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4675145
• OSTI ID: 866290
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/376/250/313/315/378/
16
accelerated
acceleration
anode
application
applications
applied
applied voltage
aspect
cathode
coil
diode
electrodes
emission
emissions
employed
employs
field
field coil
gamma
gamma ray
generate
generating
generating pulsed
insulated
insulated diode
insulating
liberate
magnet
magnetic
magnetic field
magnetically
magnetically insulated
material
mev
multiplies
neutron
neutrons
nuclear
nuclear reaction
permanent
permanent magnet
plasma
potential
prefill
prior
produce
provided
pulsating
pulsed
pulsed neutron
ray
ray emissions
reaction
selected
source
spaced
target
target mater
target material
unaffected
vacuum
vicinity
virtually
voltage
voltage applications