Plasma driven neutron/gamma generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8971473-B2
Application number	US-99218809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2009
Priority date	Jun 10, 2008
Publication date	Mar 3, 2015
Grant date	Mar 3, 2015

Abstract

An apparatus for the generation of neutron/gamma rays is described including a chamber which defines an ion source, said apparatus including an RF antenna positioned outside of or within the chamber. Positioned within the chamber is a target material. One or more sets of confining magnets are also provided to create a cross B magnetic field directly above the target. To generate neutrons/gamma rays, the appropriate source gas is first introduced into the chamber, the RF antenna energized and a plasma formed. A series of high voltage pulses are then applied to the target. A plasma sheath, which serves as an accelerating gap, is formed upon application of the high voltage pulse to the target. Depending upon the selected combination of source gas and target material, either neutrons or gamma rays are generated, which may be used for cargo inspection, and the like.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a chamber;
a target positioned within the chamber comprising a material configured to generate neutrons or gamma rays when struck by ions;
a gas source in fluid communication with the chamber configured to deliver a gas to the chamber;
an RF antenna configured to cause a plasma to be generated at a source location in the chamber from the gas;
a plurality of magnets proximate the target, the plurality of magnets configured to direct sec…

Assignees

• Leung Ka-Ngo
• Antolak Arlyn
• Sandia Corp
• Lawrence Berkeley Nat Lab

Inventors

• Leung Ka-Ngo
• Antolak Arlyn

Classifications

• H05H3/06 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• Y02E30/10

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic