A portable cylindrical electrostatic fusion device for neutronic tomography

A portable cylindrical electrostatic fusion device (C-device) was developed. Earlier studies have focused on spherical geometry. Here the authors discuss a related, but radically different cylindrical version which offers great promise for application requiring that geometry. The C-device, operating in a plasma glow discharge mode, has produced neutrons at 106 neutrons/sec for D-D fusion (equivalent to 108 neutrons/sec for D-T fusion). When used as a neutron generator, the C-device is well suited for tomographic diagnosis. Such a neutron generator would have advantages over both a beam-solid target generator and a neutron-emanating isotope. Advantages over a beam-solid target include lower estimated capital cost, longer life expectancy; over an isotope are an on/off capability, minimal radioactive inventory, variable source strength, self-calibrating capability, no storage shield. A detailed description of the device along with preliminary experimental data and an analysis of neutron yield vs. different operating parameters will be presented