Pulsed Operation of Spherical Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement Device

Gu, Yibin; Williams, M.; Stubbers, R.; Miley, George H.

doi:10.13182/fst96-a11963135

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Here, α = 0.1, β D = 0.05, β e = 0.005 and ξ e = 1.5 are assumed. It is found that owing to the increased deuteron energy, the absolute value of the neutron production rate becomes large for large ξ D values as obtained in the previous experiment [12], and the neutron production rate remains increasing in proportion to the 1.3-1.6th powers of the discharged current.…”

Section: Radial Profile Of Neutron Production Ratesupporting

confidence: 71%

“…On the other hand, in recent experiment using a spherical glow discharge as the ion source, an operation mode in which the neutron production rate increases in proportion to the 1.3-2.0th power of the discharged current was observed [12]. The increase in the neutron/proton production rate proportional to more than a power of the discharged current is advantageous to the device scaling.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…So far, neutrons (protons) more than 10 8 n s −1 produced by D(d,n) 3 He ( 3 He(d,p) 4 He) fusion reactions have been observed on several devices [1][2][3][4][5][9][10][11][12][13]. The world record of the neutron/proton production rate in SIEC devices using a spherical glow discharge as ion source has been improved continuously.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In parallel with the neutron/proton production, in some devices, the double peak in the radial profile of the neutron/proton production rate [9,10,13] has been measured. The appearance of the double neutron/proton peak suggests a formation of the multiple potential well inside the area within the cathode [1,2,[9][10][11][12][13]. Several measurements have been made to examine the formation of a multiple potential well [1,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Correlation between ion/electron distribution functions and neutron production rate in spherical inertial electrostatic confinement plasmas

2003

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Correlation between ion/electron distribution functions and device performance, i.e. potential structure, density profile and neutron production rate, in spherical inertial electrostatic confinement plasmas is studied by solving the Poisson equation for various deuteron and electron distribution functions. For several combinations of the ion and electron convergences, dependence of the total neutron production rate on discharged current is discussed. It is shown that when electrons have high convergence and energetic component compared with ions, the neutron production rate can increase in proportion to more than a power of the discharged current, even if the neutron production is sustained mainly by the fusion reactions between the beam (deuteron) and background (deuterium) gases.

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Section: Radial Profile Of Neutron Production Ratesupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Correlation between ion/electron distribution functions and neutron production rate in spherical inertial electrostatic confinement plasmas

2003

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“…For some less demanding applications, a single DT neutron generator plus the X-ray unit could prove adequate also, pulsed-type PFNA analysis can be employed since good pulse capabilities have been demonstrated with IEC devices. 15…”

Section: Security Inspection Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

IEC-Based Neutron Generator for Security Inspection System

Miley

2002

10th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, Volume 4

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Large nuclear reactors are widely employed for electricity power generation, but small nuclear radiation sources can also be used for a variety of industrial/government applications. In this paper we will discuss the use of a small neutron source based on Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) of accelerated deuterium ions. There is an urgent need of highly effective detection systems for explosives, especially in airports. While current airport inspection systems are strongly based on X-ray technique, neutron activation including Thermal Neutron Analysis (TNA) and Fast Neutron Analysis (FNA) is powerful in detecting certain types of explosives in luggage and in cargoes. Basic elements present in the explosives can be measured through the (n, n’γ) reaction initiated by fast neutrons. Combined with a time-of-flight technique, a complete imaging of key elements, hence of the explosive materials, is obtained. Among the various neutron source generators, the IEC is an ideal candidate to meet the neutron activation analysis requirements. Compared with other accelerators and radioisotopes such as 252Cf, the IEC is simpler, can be switched on or off, and can reliably produce neutrons with minimum maintenance. Theoretical and experimental studies of a spherical IEC have been conducted at the University of Illinois. In a spherical IEC device, 2.54-MeV neutrons of ∼108 n/s via DD reactions over recent years or 14-MeV neutrons of ∼2×1010 n/s via DT reactions can be obtained using an ion gun injection technique. The possibility of the cylindrical IEC in pulsed operation mode combining with pulsed FNA method would also be discussed. In this paper we examine the possibility of using an alternative cylindrical IEC configuration. Such a device was studied earlier at the University of Illinois and it provides a very convenient geometry for security inspection. However, to calculate the neutron yield precisely with this configuration, an understanding of the potential wall trapping and acceleration of ions is needed. The theory engaged is an extension of original analytic study by R.L. Hirsh on the potential well structure in a spherical IEC device, i.e. roughly a “line” source of neutrons from a cylindrical IEC is a “point” source from the spherical geometry. Thus our present study focuses on the cylindrical IEC for its convenient application in an FNA detecting system. The conceptual design and physics of ion trapping and re-circulation in a cylindrical IEC intended for neutron-based inspection system will be presented.

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Various Other IEC Concepts and Experiments

Miley

Murali²

2013

Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Fusion

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Pulsed Operation of Spherical Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement Device

Cited by 9 publications

References 2 publications

Correlation between ion/electron distribution functions and neutron production rate in spherical inertial electrostatic confinement plasmas

Correlation between ion/electron distribution functions and neutron production rate in spherical inertial electrostatic confinement plasmas

IEC-Based Neutron Generator for Security Inspection System

Various Other IEC Concepts and Experiments

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