Neutron generator

Neutron generator is a type of nuclear reactor that produces neutrons for scientific, industrial, or security purposes. Neutron generators function by fusing atoms together to create neutrons. This process is known as nuclear fusion.

History

The first neutron generator was developed in the 1930s by Ernest Lawrence at the University of California, Berkeley. Lawrence's design used a cyclotron to accelerate deuterium ions into a target, producing neutrons through fusion reactions.

Design and operation

Neutron generators typically consist of a particle accelerator and a target material. The particle accelerator is used to accelerate ions (usually deuterium or tritium) to high energies. These ions then collide with the target material, causing nuclear reactions that produce neutrons.

The target material is usually a compound containing deuterium or tritium, such as titanium deuteride or tritium hydride. When the accelerated ions collide with the target material, they cause the deuterium or tritium atoms to fuse together, producing a neutron and a helium atom.

Applications

Neutron generators have a wide range of applications. They are used in scientific research, for example in neutron scattering experiments. They are also used in industry, for example in neutron radiography and in the detection of explosives and illicit drugs. In addition, neutron generators are used in security applications, for example in neutron activation analysis to detect illicit materials.

See also

• Nuclear fusion
• Particle accelerator
• Neutron source