Historical research guide · 1104 · 2015
Design of a linear neutron source
N. Buzarbaruah · N.J. Dutta · J.K. Bhardwaz · S.R. Mohanty
In one minute
Buzarbaruah and colleagues present a design for a linear neutron source based on inertial electrostatic confinement fusion. The device uses concentric coaxial cylindrical grids inside a double-walled vacuum chamber, with gas injection, a high-voltage feedthrough, and a negative-polarity supply. The inner grid is intended to sit at high negative potential while the outer grid is grounded. They used SIMION to study how grid transparency affects electric potential and ion trajectories. In the proposed sequence, a filament discharge first makes a diffuse deuterium plasma; negative voltage then accelerates deuterons toward the axis, where they are expected to oscillate and fuse between the grids. The source is expected—not reported as measured—to produce 10⁷–10⁸ neutrons per second. It is a design-and-simulation paper, so its proposed continuous and pulsed uses are not evidence of deployed performance.
Connection
It shows how geometry, voltage polarity, and ion trajectories become an explicit design problem before a compact fusion-neutron source can be tested.
From the source
The paper presents a design for a linear neutron source based on inertial electrostatic confinement fusion. It is a proposed source, not a report of an already demonstrated operating device.Publisher abstract, opening sentence
The proposed source includes a concentric coaxial cylindrical grid assembly in a double-walled cylindrical vacuum chamber, with gas injection, a high-voltage feedthrough, and a negative-polarity power supply.Publisher abstract, device components
The inner grid is intended to be held at high negative potential relative to a grounded outer grid. The authors used SIMION to study how grid transparency changes electric potential distribution and ion trajectories.Publisher abstract and highlights, grid potential and SIMION study
In the proposed operating sequence, filament discharge creates diffuse deuterium plasma, then high negative voltage accelerates deuterons toward the axis. The authors expect those deuterons to oscillate in the potential and fuse between the grids.Publisher abstract, proposed plasma and ion sequence
The source is expected to produce 10⁷–10⁸ neutrons per second. That range is a theoretical estimate in a design paper, not a measured neutron-production result.Publisher abstract and highlights, expected neutron-production rate
A decisive next step is a test that reports independently measured neutron output, grid voltage and current, pressure, detector method, and uncertainty for each proposed operating mode.Publisher abstract, proposed continuous and pulse modes with expected neutron-production rate
The way in
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2014.12.020How to cite it
N. Buzarbaruah, N.J. Dutta, J.K. Bhardwaz, S.R. Mohanty (2015) Design of a linear neutron source doi:10.1016/j.fusengdes.2014.12.020