Neutron generator based on intense lithium beam driver

Area of Science:

• Nuclear physics
• Accelerator physics
• Plasma physics

Background:

• Conventional neutron generators often require high beam energies, limiting their compactness and increasing operational complexity.
• Existing heavy ion sources struggle to achieve beam currents comparable to proton drivers, hindering neutron flux enhancement.
• The kinematic focusing technique offers a potential pathway to increase neutron yield without escalating beam energy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and report the development status of a compact neutron generator utilizing a lithium beam driver.
• To leverage the kinematic focusing technique for enhanced neutron flux in a compact design.
• To achieve high beam currents using a laser ion source and radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) linac.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a compact neutron generator system including a laser ion source, RFQ linac, drift tube linac, and proton target.
• Utilizing a lithium (Li) beam as the projectile to enable kinematic focusing.
• Employing a direct plasma injection scheme for the RFQ linac to achieve high beam currents.
• Designing RFQ rods for accelerating 40 mA of 7Li3+ and testing with C6+.

Main Results:

• Successful acceleration of 10 mA of C6+ beam in the fabricated RFQ linac as a first test.
• The proposed system aims for a fully ionized lithium beam current of several tens of mA.
• The kinematic focusing technique is expected to enhance neutron flux without increasing beam energy.

Conclusions:

• The development of a compact neutron generator based on a Li beam driver is progressing.
• The combination of a laser ion source and RFQ linac shows promise for high-current heavy ion beams.
• The initial RFQ test results are encouraging for the advancement of this novel neutron generation technology.