Fission fragment driven neutron source

US3976888A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration · US

Inventors

• Lowell G. Miller · Idaho Falls, US
• Robert Christopher Young · London, GB
• Robert Brugger · Bern, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 23, 1975
• Grant date: Aug 24, 1976
• Expiry date: Jan 23, 1995

Classification

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

Abstract

Fissionable uranium formed into a foil is bombarded with thermal neutrons in the presence of deuterium-tritium gas. The resulting fission fragments impart energy to accelerate deuterium and tritium particles which in turn provide approximately 14 MeV neutrons by the reactions t(d,n).sup.4 He and d(t,n).sup.4 He.