Neutron and x-ray emission from a cylindrical inertial electrostatic confinement fusion device and their applications
D. Bhattacharjee, N. Buzarbaruah, S. R. Mohanty
Abstract
Table-top neutron/x-ray sources are of great interest for uses in neutron activation analyses, in neutron/x-ray radiography, and also in medical applications. Inertial electrostatic confinement fusion (IECF) is a multiple neutron source that can emit neutrons, protons, x rays, etc., as basic products when operated in both continuous and pulsed modes. In this work, D-D neutrons are produced in the steady-state mode using a cylindrical IECF device. The neutron production rate has been optimized by using cathodes having different dimensions and geometrical transparencies. The maximum neutron production rate is found to be approaching 107n/s, using a cathode having eight grid wires and a diameter of 3 cm. The neutrons are successfully used for neutron activation analysis of materials containing explosive elements. X-ray spectrum having a wide range of photon energies (30–70 keV) has been detected from this device while operated in the continuous mode. X-ray radiography of high density objects has also been performed and reported for the first time using the cylindrical IECF source with negative polarity of the central grid in this paper.