Dense Plasma Focus Neutron Generator for Active Interrogation

Dense Plasma Focus Neutron Generator for Active Interrogation PDF Author:
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 17

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Dense Plasma Focus Neutron Generator for Active Interrogation

Dense Plasma Focus Neutron Generator for Active Interrogation PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 17

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A Dense Plasma Focus Device as a Pulsed Neutron Source for Material Identification

A Dense Plasma Focus Device as a Pulsed Neutron Source for Material Identification PDF Author: Amgad Elsayed Soliman Mohamed
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Dense plasma focus (DPF) devices are pulsed power devices capable of producing short-lived, hot and dense plasmas (~1019 cm−3) through a fast compression of plasma sheath. A DPF device provides intense bursts of electrons and ion beams, X-rays, and 2.5 MeV neutrons when operated with deuterium through the fusion reaction 2H(d, n)3He. The Kansas State University DPF machine was designed and constructed in early 2010. The device was characterized to determine its performance as a neutron source. The device was shown to produce 5.0x107 neutrons/pulse using a tungsten-copper anode. Such machines have the advantages of being non-radioactive, movable, and producing short pulses (typically tens of nanoseconds), which allows rapid interrogation. The signature-based radiation-scanning (SBRS) method has been used to distinguish targets that contain explosives or explosive surrogates from targets that contain materials called "inert," meaning they are not explosive-like. Different targets were placed in front of the DPF source at a distance of 45 cm. Four BC-418 plastic scintillators were used to measure the direct neutron yield and the neutrons scattered from various targets; the neutron source and the detectors were shielded with layers of lead, stainless steel, and borated polyethylene to shield against the X-rays and neutrons. One of the plastic scintillators was set at 70° and two were set at 110° from the line of the neutron beam; a bare 3He tube was used for detecting scattered thermal neutrons. Twelve metal cans of one-gallon each containing four explosive surrogates and eight inert materials were used as targets. Nine materials in five-gallon cans including three explosive surrogates were also used. The SBRS method indicated a capability to distinguish the explosive surrogates in both experiments, although the five gallon targets gave more accurate results. The MCNP code was used to validate the experimental work and to simulate real explosives. The simulations indicated the possibility to use the time of flight (TOF) technique in future experimental work, and were able to distinguish all the real explosives from the inert materials.

Development of a Compact Neutron Generator to be Used For Associated Particle Imaging Utilizing a RF-Driven Ion Source

Development of a Compact Neutron Generator to be Used For Associated Particle Imaging Utilizing a RF-Driven Ion Source PDF Author: Ying Wu
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Ion source development plays an important role for improving and advancing the neutron generator technology used for active interrogation techniques employed by the Department of Homeland Security. Active neutron interrogation using compact neutron generators has been around since the late 1950's for use in oil well logging. However, since the September 11th, 2001 terrorists attack, much attention has been paid to the field of active neutron interrogation for detecting hidden explosives and special nuclear materials (SNM) in cargo and luggage containers through the development of effective and efficient radioactive sources and detectors. In particular, the Associated Particle Imaging (API) method for detecting and imaging explosives is of great interest New compact neutron generators will help to enhance the capabilities of existing threat detection systems and promote the development of cutting-edge detection technologies. The work performed in this thesis includes the testing of various ion source configurations and the development and characterization of an inductively coupled radio frequency (RF) ion source for use in compact neutron generators. These ion source designs have been investigated for the purpose of D-T neutron generation for explosive detection via the Associated Particle Imaging (API) technique. API makes use of the 3.5 MeV alpha particles that are produced simultaneously with the 14 MeV neutrons in the deuterium-tritium (2D(3T, n)4) fusion reaction to determine the direction of the neutrons and to reduce background noise. The Associated Particle Imaging neutron generator required a beam spot of 1-mm or less in diameter at the target in order to achieve the necessary spatial image resolution. For portable neutron generators used in API, the ion source and target cannot be water-cooled and the power deposited on the target must be low. By increasing the atomic ion fraction, the ion beam can be used more efficiently to generate neutrons, resulting in a lower beam power requirement and an increased lifetime of the alpha detector inside the acceleration column. Various source configurations, antenna design, and permanent magnet placement have been investigated so as to develop an ion source which could provide high monatomic deuterium species and high current density at relatively low RF powers (less than 200 W). In this work, an RF ion source was developed that uses an external, planar, spiral antenna at 13.56 MHz with a quartz source body and side multi-cusp magnets to generate hydrogen isotope plasmas with high mono-atomic ion species (> 80%) while consuming only 150 watts of power and operating under 10 mTorr of gas pressure. A single acceleration gap with a secondary electron suppression electrode are used in the tube. Experimental measurements of the ion source plasma parameters including ion current density, atomic ion fraction, ignition and operating pressures, electron temperature, and electron density are presented along with a discussion on the ion optics and engineering challenges. It is shown that the measured neutron yield for the developed D-D neutron generator was 2 x 105 n/s, which scales to 8 x 107 n/s for D-T operation. In addition, initial measurements of the neutron generator performance including the beam spot size, associated particle detection, and neutron tube (without pumping) operation will be discussed. Some suggestions for future improvement are also presented in this dissertation.

Proceedings of the Workshop on High Intensity Neutron Generators, Held at the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Nevada Operations Office, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 17, 1972

Proceedings of the Workshop on High Intensity Neutron Generators, Held at the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Nevada Operations Office, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 17, 1972 PDF Author: Harold Augustus Lamonds
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Neutron sources
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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An Advanced Neutron Generator for Field Based Active Interrogation

An Advanced Neutron Generator for Field Based Active Interrogation PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 15

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Handbook of Fast Neutron Generators, Volume I

Handbook of Fast Neutron Generators, Volume I PDF Author: Julius Csikai
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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This handbook reviews those problems and methods of science and technology where the neutrons produced in the 3H/d, N/4He, and 2H/d, n/3He reactions play the main role. This two-volume set: Discusses possible applications of these small generators as thermal neutron sources Enables suitable topics to be selected for education and training, provides a wide range of experiments with the detection of neutrons and charged particles, including the study of shielding and the generator technology itself Gives a review of important operational characteristics of neutron generators and the necessary instruments connected with these applications Provides an account of recent results of fast neutron activation analysis in various fields.

An Advanced Neutron Generator for Field Based Active Interrogation Systems

An Advanced Neutron Generator for Field Based Active Interrogation Systems PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 13

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An Advance Neutron Generator for Field Based Active Interrogation Systems

An Advance Neutron Generator for Field Based Active Interrogation Systems PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Review of Dense Plasma Focus Technology for Intense and Directional Neutron Sources

Review of Dense Plasma Focus Technology for Intense and Directional Neutron Sources PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 8

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EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE Mk-IA PLASMA NEUTRON SOURCE.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE Mk-IA PLASMA NEUTRON SOURCE. PDF Author: Mitchell H. Dazey
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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An experimental investigation was carried out to determine the relationships between the significant parameters of an unusual pulsed neutron generator. The device employes a novel paraboloidal electrode geometry and belongs to the general class of plasma 'focus' devices in which neutrons are generated by the compression of a dense deuterium plasma. Maximum neutron yields of the order of 10 to the 9th power neutrons/shot were obtained using a bank of six 14-microfarad capacitors at 23 kV for a bank energy of 22 kJ. The parametric variables studied included deuterium gas pressure, bank voltage, anode geometry, and electrode material in the vicinity of the focus. The neutron and x-ray spectra were measured. (Author).