THE IEC - A PLASMA-TARGET-BASED NEUTRON SOURCE

In the inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) device, deuteron ions are accelerated, producing fusion reactions as they react with a deute rium plasma target. Present devices offer 10(6)-10(7) 2.5 MeV D-D n s( -1) during steady-state operation. Higher yield pulsed versions are un der development. Consequently the IEC neutron source is currently comp etitive, in terms of neutron strength, with Cf-252 and accelerator sol id-target sources and offers a number of advantages, including an on-o ff capability, longer lifetime without deterioration in strength, and minimum involvement of radioactivity. These features simplify IEC usag e and ease licensing restrictions. Conversion to higher energy (14 MeV ) neutrons by substituting D-T fill gas for pure deuterium fill gas ha s confirmed the higher source strength of 10(8)-10(9) D-T n s(-1) for the same IEC unit size. For these reasons, the IEC provides an excelle nt research laboratory neutron source as well as long life, a low main tenance cost industrial source for neutron activation analysis and non -destructive testing. Two basic geometries have been developed-a spher ical unit and a cylindrical unit. Spherical units have vacuum vessel d iameters ranging from 15 cm to 60 cm. Present cylindrical units are ap proximately 12 cm in diameter and 1 m long, but smaller designs are un der development. The two geometries are complementary: the spherical u nit provides a 'point' source of neutrons, while the cylindrical devic e provides a 'line' source. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.