Neutron generation using pyroelectric crystals

US11839016B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC · US

Inventors

• Vincent Tang · Dublin, US
• Glenn A. Meyer · Danville, US
• Steven Falabella · Livermore, US
• Gary Guethlein · Livermore, US
• Brian Rusnak · Livermore, US
• Stephen Sampayan · Manteca, US
• Christopher M. Spadaccini · Oakland, US
• Li-Fang Wang · Livermore, US
• John Richardson Harris · Monterey, US
• Jeff Morse · Westhampton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 2020
• Grant date: Dec 5, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 16, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G21G4/02
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method for producing a neutrons includes producing a voltage of negative polarity of at least −100 keV on a surface of a deuterated or tritiated target in response to a temperature change of a pyroelectric crystal of less than about 40° C., the pyroelectric crystal having the deuterated or tritiated target coupled thereto, pulsing a deuterium ion source to produce a deuterium ion beam, accelerating the deuterium ion beam to the deuterated or tritiated target, and directing the ion beam onto the deuterated or tritiated target to make neutrons using at least one element of the following: a voltage of the pyroelectric crystal and a high gradient insulator (HGI) surrounding the pyroelectric crystal. The accelerating of the deuterium ion beam is achieved by using an ion accelerating mechanism comprising a pyroelectric stack accelerator having a first thermal altering mechanism for changing a temperature of the pyroelectric stack accelerator.