Neutron generation in a vacuum plasma diode with accelerating voltage to 280 kV and laser source of deuterons in the anode was investigated. The maximum neutron yield in a regime with magnetic insulation of the electrons in the reaction D(d, n)3 He is Qdd = 5·107 per count, which is 10 times higher than the value without a magnetic field. A hollow cylindrical NdFeB magnet, which is placed inside the vacuum volume of the diode and is also the diode’s cathode, is used to create a magnetic field. The conversion on the basis of numerical modeling showed that the neutron yield in the reaction T(d, n)4 He can reach 5·109 per count.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Yu. N. Barmakov (ed.), Portable Neutron Generators and Technologies Based of Them: Reports at the International Scientific and Technical Conference, VNIIA, Moscow (2013).
B. Yu. Bogdanovich, A. V. Nesterovich, A. E. Shikanov, et al., Remote Radiation Monitoring with Linear Charged-Particle Accelerators, Vol. 1, Linear Accelerators for Generating Bremsstrahlung and Neutrons, Energoatomizdat, Moscow (2009).
A. N. Didenko, A. E. Shikanov, K. I. Kozlovskii, et al., “Small plasma diodes with magnetic insulation for neutron generation,” Fiz. Plazmy, 40, No. 11, 1025–1034 (2014).
D. F. Bespadov, K. I. Kozlovskii, A. S. Tsubin, and A. E. Shikanov, Inventor’s Certificate USSR No. 766048, “Pulsed neutron tube,” Byull. Otkryt., Izobret., Polezn. Mod. Tov. Znakov, No. 35, 340 (1980).
I. I. Vergun, A. E. Shikanov, K. I. Kozlovskii, et al., “Investigation of intense laser source of deuterons,” Zh. Tekh. Fiz., 49, No. 5, 2003–2006 (1979).
M. Beier, V. Bek, K. Meller, and V.Tsaengl, High-Voltage Engineering: Theoretical and Practical Principles of Applications, Energoatomizdat, Moscow (1989).
L. A. Bessonov, Theoretical Principles of Electrical Engineering: Electrical Circuits, Vysshaya Shkola, Moscow (1996).
N. A. Vlasov, Neutrons, Nauka, Moscow (1971).
E. A. Kramer-Ageev and V. S. Troshin, Instrumental Methods of Radiological Safety, NIYaU MIFI, Moscow (2011).
L. Curtis, Introduction to Neutron Physics [Russian translation], Atomizdat, Moscow (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 119, No. 4, pp. 210–215, October, 2015.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shikanov, A.E., Vovchenko, E.D. & Kozlovskii, K.I. Neutron Generation in a Plasma Diode with Electrons Insulated by a Constant Magnetic Field. At Energy 119, 258–264 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-016-0057-3
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-016-0057-3