Neutron tube comprising an electrostatic ion source
US5152956A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 1989 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 4, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A sealed neutron tube is set forth, containing a low-pressure gaseous deuterium-tritium mixture wherefrom an ion source (13) forms an ion beam which traverses an acceleration electrode (17) and is projected with high energy onto a target (16) in order to produce therein a fusion reaction which causes an emission of neutrons. In accordance with the invention, the ion source comprises a cold cathode with strictly electrostatic confinement of ionizing electrons; this is achieved by using an anode which is connected to a positive potential and which has a weakly collective surface facing the repulsive surface of the cathode cavity; the anode is arranged along the axis of the cavity in which it is arranged; said cavity constitutes the internal part of the cathode (15) in which the electrons (e.sub.2) which oscillate along very long paths in comparison with the dimensions of the cathode cavity ionize the gas and form an ionized gas wherefrom the ion beam (22) is extracted for standard ion optical device (17).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.