Compact ion source neutron generator

Patent · Tue Oct 13 00:00:00 EDT 2015

OSTI ID:1223095

Schenkel, Thomas; Persaud, Arun; Kapadia, Rehan; Javey, Ali; Chang-Hasnain, Constance; Rangelow, Ivo; Kwan, Joe

A neutron generator includes a conductive substrate comprising a plurality of conductive nanostructures with free-standing tips and a source of an atomic species to introduce the atomic species in proximity to the free-standing tips. A target placed apart from the substrate is voltage biased relative to the substrate to ionize and accelerate the ionized atomic species toward the target. The target includes an element capable of a nuclear fusion reaction with the ionized atomic species to produce a one or more neutrons as a reaction by-product.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): 9,161,429
• Application Number: 13/451,475
• OSTI ID: 1223095
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 2012 Apr 19
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English