DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Magnetically insulated diode for generating pulsed neutron and gamma ray emissions

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
AT&T
OSTI Identifier:
866290
Patent Number(s):
4675145
Assignee:
United State of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05H - PLASMA TECHNIQUE
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76DP00789
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
magnetically; insulated; diode; generating; pulsed; neutron; gamma; ray; emissions; employs; permanent; magnet; generate; magnetic; insulating; field; spaced; anode; cathode; vacuum; source; provided; vicinity; liberate; acceleration; virtually; unaffected; accelerated; target; nuclear; reaction; material; selected; neutrons; aspect; coil; employed; electrodes; plasma; prefill; prior; application; pulsating; potential; multiplies; applied; voltage; applications; produce; 16; mev; emission; gamma ray; permanent magnet; magnetic field; target material; pulsed neutron; applied voltage; magnetically insulated; field coil; nuclear reaction; ray emissions; generating pulsed; insulated diode; target mater; voltage applications; /376/250/313/315/378/

Citation Formats

Kuswa, Glenn W, and Leeper, Ramon J. Magnetically insulated diode for generating pulsed neutron and gamma ray emissions. United States: N. p., 1987. Web.
Kuswa, Glenn W, & Leeper, Ramon J. Magnetically insulated diode for generating pulsed neutron and gamma ray emissions. United States.
Kuswa, Glenn W, and Leeper, Ramon J. Thu . "Magnetically insulated diode for generating pulsed neutron and gamma ray emissions". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866290.
@article{osti_866290,
title = {Magnetically insulated diode for generating pulsed neutron and gamma ray emissions},
author = {Kuswa, Glenn W and Leeper, Ramon J},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1987},
month = {1}
}