Cylindrical neutron generator
First Claim
1. A cylindrical neutron generator, comprising:
- a cylindrical RF-driven plasma ion source;
a cylindrically-shaped radial ion extractor system, said extractor system disposed coaxially about the ion source to radially extract ions from the ion source; and
, a cylindrical neutron generating solid target disposed coaxially as an electrically continuous cylinder outside and spaced from the ion source to receive ions extracted from the source by said cylindrical extractor system, whereby said target becomes loaded with impinging ions from the source to produce ion induced neutron generating reactions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cylindrical neutron generator is formed with a coaxial RF-driven plasma ion source and target. A deuterium (or deuterium and tritium) plasma is produced by RF excitation in a cylindrical plasma ion generator using an RF antenna. A cylindrical neutron generating target is coaxial with the ion generator, separated by plasma and extraction electrodes which contain many slots. The plasma generator emanates ions radially over 360° and the cylindrical target is thus irradiated by ions over its entire circumference. The plasma generator and target may be as long as desired. The plasma generator may be in the center and the neutron target on the outside, or the plasma generator may be on the outside and the target on the inside. In a nested configuration, several concentric targets and plasma generating regions are nested to increase the neutron flux.
41 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A cylindrical neutron generator, comprising:
-
a cylindrical RF-driven plasma ion source;
a cylindrically-shaped radial ion extractor system, said extractor system disposed coaxially about the ion source to radially extract ions from the ion source; and
,a cylindrical neutron generating solid target disposed coaxially as an electrically continuous cylinder outside and spaced from the ion source to receive ions extracted from the source by said cylindrical extractor system, whereby said target becomes loaded with impinging ions from the source to produce ion induced neutron generating reactions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A cylindrical neutron source, comprising:
-
a cylindrical chamber;
at least two plasma generating regions and at least two neutron generating targets, a first neutron generating target disposed concentrically as an electrically continuous cylinder outside and spaced from a first plasma generating region, a second plasma generating region disposed concentrically outside and spaced from said first neutron generating target and a second neutron generating target disposed concentrically as an electrically continuous cylinder outside and spaced from said second plasma generating region, all of said plasma generating regions and said neutron generating targets being disposed within said cylindrical chamber;
an RF antenna (induction coil) disposed within each plasma generating region; and
,a plurality of cylindrically shaped extraction electrodes having longitudinal slots, each of said plasma generating regions having an extraction electrode disposed adjacent an inner surface of said plasma generating region, each of said inner surfaces being disposed in each of said plasma generating regions so as to be positioned within a portion of a plasma generating region that is located toward a center longitudinal axis of said neutron source, and another extraction electrode disposed adjacent an outer surface of said plasma generating region, each of said outer surfaces being disposed in each of said plasma generating regions so as to positioned within a portion of a plasma generating region that is located away from the center longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A cylindrical neutron generator comprising:
-
a. a cylindrical RF-driven plasma ion source;
b. a cylindrical neutron generating solid target disposed coaxially as an electrically continuous cylinder outside and spaced from the ion source; and
c. a means for radially extracting ions from the ion source and impinging the extracted ions upon the target. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification