Generation of nanosecond neutron pulses in vacuum accelerating tubes

Cathode and plasma phenomena in vacuum-arc sources of hydrogen isotope ions: I. Desorption of hydrogen isotopes during the operation of vacuum arc cathode spots

“…Historically, the efforts aimed at improving the efficiency of vacuum neutron tubes with arc ion sources (increasing neutron yield, enhancing stability, and lengthening lifetime) were mainly focused on optimizing the source design and electrical circuit and on increasing the efficiency of hydrogen isotope extraction from the arc plasma (see, e.g. [6][7][8][9] and other publications). At the same time, the processes occurring directly in a vacuum-arc ion source remained poorly understood.…”

Electronically driven neutrons synthesis-generator with the magneto-optical flow seal

“…These reactions are exothermic and can occur at arbitrarily low deuteron energies. In comparison with the generation of neutron pulses with a duration of 1 − 100 ns [6] using small-sized vacuum accelerator tubes, where it is possible at (D-T reaction, 300 kV) the neutron yield is 2 · 10 7 n/imp, the synthesis generator creates accelerated beams of lithium, deuterium and tritium ions, and then the formation of a dense ion or plasma target and a dense incoming flow allows the formation of neutron pulses from units of seconds to milliseconds from 2 · 10 10 to 2 · 10 14 n/imp. The generation of the dense flow of protons, deuterium or tritium atoms for the neutrons synthesis on the ion-plasma target of deuterium, tritium or lithium occurs as the result of primary flow compaction and discretization by software-defined concentration and average energy of the flow.…”

Small-size high-current ion diode with pulsed magnetic insulation of electrons for 500 keV energy

“…A partial diode locking by a space charge already occurs at the current of ~10 А and a pulse duration of tens of nanoseconds. Besides, the neutron yield and neutron pulse duration are considerably reduced with the growth of emission current from the cathode [6].…”