Neutron Yield of Thermo Scientific P385 D-T Neutron Generator vs. Current and Voltage

Journal Article · 26 January 2025 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/tns.2025.3534627 · OSTI ID:2514385

Jeon, Jihye  ^[1]; Goldston, Robert J.  ^[2]; Gilson, Erik P.  ^[3]

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1. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
3. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

The Thermo Scientific P385 Neutron Generator is a compact neutron source, producing 14 MeV neutrons through the deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion reaction. It is important to measure and understand the dependence of the neutron production rate on the accelerator current and voltage. In this study we evaluated neutron production with an absolutely calibrated liquid scintillator neutron spectrometer (BTI N-Probe), an absolutely calibrated He-3 detector surrounded by HDPE shells (Detec Nested Neutron Spectrometer, NNS), and two uncalibrated ZnS fast neutron scintillators (EJ-410), for both A3082 and A3083 sealed tubes. Here we also modeled the neutron yield using the TRIM code, which calculates the trajectory and the energy loss of deuterons and tritons within the target. Experimental results showed an essentially linear dependence on beam current, as expected. A 3.59 ±0.08 power law dependence on the operating voltage was measured, in effective agreement with the modeled value of 3.5. A series of absolute NNS and N-Probe measurements, matched against MCNP calculations, showed that the A3083 and A3082 tubes provide a maximum neutron yield of 8.2 × 10⁸ n/s and 4.7 × 10⁸ n/s respectively, with estimated uncertainty of ±10%.We showed, through modeling, that tritium decay is not a significant consideration for tubes, such as these, with lifetimes of less than 10 years.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton University, NJ (United States); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Consortium for Monitoring, Technology, and Verification
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-09CH11466; NA0003920
• OSTI ID: 2514385
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 72; ISSN 0018-9499
• Publisher: IEEECopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English