Short pulse neutron generator
| DWPI Title: Short pulse neutron generator, has chamber positioned in gap between conductive plates, blumlein structure for accelerating ions in either direction of faces in gap, and ion generator positioned between plates to output ions into chamber |
| Abstract: Short pulse neutron generators are described herein. In a general embodiment, the short pulse neutron generator includes a Blumlein structure. The Blumlein structure includes a first conductive plate, a second conductive plate, a third conductive plate, at least one of an inductor or a resistor, a switch, and a dielectric material. The first conductive plate is positioned relative to the second conductive plate such that a gap separates these plates. A vacuum chamber is positioned in the gap, and an ion source is positioned to emit ions in the vacuum chamber. The third conductive plate is electrically grounded, and the switch is operable to electrically connect and disconnect the second conductive plate and the third conductive plate. The at least one of the resistor or the inductor is coupled to the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate. |
| Use: Short pulse neutron generator. Uses include but are not limited to use in oil well logging, material detection, imaging, treatment/monitoring of medical conditions and radiography. |
| Advantage: The generator utilizes a switch that couples the conductive plate with another conductive plate when the switch is closed, thus obtaining relatively rapid voltage drop at the electrode when voltage at electrode remains relatively high. The generator reduces length to avoid harmful effects. |
| Novelty: The generator (100) has electrodes (118, 122) coupled to conductive plates (102-104, 110), where electrodes comprise target surfaces (120) loaded with deuterium or tritium. The first electrode is opposite to the second electrode in a vacuum chamber (116) and separated by an accelerating gap, where electrode faces (124) comprise apertures. A blumlein structure accelerates ions in either direction of the first face and the second face in the accelerating gap. An ion generator (128) is positioned between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate to output ions into the chamber. |
| Filed: 6/22/2016 |
| Application Number: US15190035A |
| Tech ID: SD 12089.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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