Neutron Generating Systems Using Piezoelectric Transformers

Compact neutron generators have applications in active interrogation systems for the detection of illicit materials. Accelerator based neutron sources can also serve as a radioisotope replacement in applications such as oil well logging. Compact systems for neutron production are presented that make use of piezoelectric transformers for high voltage generation. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric transformer plasma source (PTPS) is used to generate deuterium ions for DC acceleration into a deuterated target. In another embodiment, a system couples a PTPS ion source and a high voltage piezoelectric transformer (HVPT) as a high voltage source. The PTPS generates deuterium ions, while the HVPT extracts the ions into a deuterium impregnated target producing neutrons using the D(d,n)3He nuclear reaction. Characterization of the PTPS as an ion source will be presented, for a range of driving voltages from 750 to 1500 V, extraction voltages from 100 to 1500 V, internal pressures from 0.5 to 4 Torr, and hollow anode apertures of 0.3 and 0.6 mm. Results of initial neutron generation tests will be presented, for the PTPS-DC acceleration configuration as well as the coupled PTPS-HVPT system.