High Flux Neutron Generator (IMAGE)

University of California - Berkeley

High Flux Neutron Generator

Caption

This cutaway of the high flux neutron generator shows the two chambers (bronze) where the deuterium is heated to 50,000 degrees Celsius, creating a plasma of ionized deuterium. A 100,000-volt charge at the extraction plate accelerates the ions toward the target, which contains more deuterium atoms. When two deuterium atoms fuse, they produce a neutron, which irradiates a sample placed nearby. The shroud prevents excessive heating from backstreaming electrons.

Credit

Karl van Bibber, UC Berkeley

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