Accelerator for the production of very high neutron yields of 14 MeV

An electrostatic, low-energy, high-current accelerator is described for the production of intense neutron flux (14 MeV). The accelerating voltage lies between 160 and 200 kV, and the total current is 200 mA. The DT reaction gives yields of 6x1011 ns-1cm-2 for a neutron emission of 8x1012 ns-1 in the 4π. In order to achieve the dissipation of power carried by the deuteron beam, with a density which may exceed 10 kW cm-2, a 500 cm2 tritiated titanium ring is deposited on the rotating target holder so that the diameter of the neutron source is smaller than 50 mm. In addition to the possibility of reducing the distance between the sample and the active surface to 1 mm, it thus makes it possible to obtain very intense yields. The device was designed for an intensive operation; special attention is paid to the problem of breakdowns. Moreover, the rail-guided carriage mechanism allows automatic changing of target holders. (author)