A COMPACT, LOW ENERGY NEUTRON SOURCE

摘要

A neutron source comprising an electrostatic particle accelerator (10; 30) and a neutron-emitting target material (14; 40) arranged such that charged particles (22; 36) may be accelerated by the electrostatic particle accelerator to hit the neutron-emitting target material, releasing neutrons (16; 10 42). The electrostatic particle accelerator comprises concentric shells (102) each divided into two parts at an equatorial plane (103), and further comprises diodes connected to shell parts across the equatorial plane.