A D–D neutron generator using a titanium drive-in target

Abstract

A D–D neutron generator was developed with an intensity of 108n/s. A helicon plasma ion source was used to produce a large current deuteron beam, and neutrons were generated by irradiating the deuteron beam on a titanium drive-in target made of commercial pure titanium. The neutron generator was test-run for several hundred hours, and the performances were investigated. The available range of the deuteron beam current was 0.8–8mA and the beam could be accelerated up to 97.5keV. The maximum neutron generation rate in the test-runs was 1.9×108n/s, which was achieved by irradiating a 7.6mA deuteron beam at 94.0keV on a 0.5mm-thick target. The operation of the neutron generator was fairly stable, such that the neutron generation rate was not altered by high voltage breakdowns during the test-runs. Neutron generation efficiency was rated as low as 10% when compared to an ideal case of irradiating a 100% monatomic deuteron beam on a perfect TiD2 target. Factors causing the low efficiency were suggested and discussed.