High-Efficiency Long-Lifetime Neutron Generator For Radiographic Munitions and IED Inspection

Sealed-tube fusion neutron generator (FNG) sources have on-off capability and relatively small size suitable for small-footprint neutron radiography (NR) and non-destructive evaluation (NDE) systems; however, lifetime of these tubes at the desired output levels is short (a few hundred hours due to target degradation at high power), and thus have prohibitive operating cost. Starfire Industries proposed an innovative FNG solution to improve output efficiency and lifetime in a compact configuration to become cost and mission competitive. In Phase I, Starfire demonstrated the technical and commercial feasibility of an advanced, compact, high-flux FNG with higher conversion efficiency (>3x) and longer lifetime (>20x) compared to the current state-of-the-art. In Phase II, Starfire will evaluate a 1E10 DD n/s compact source as a precursor to a 1E12 DT n/s system, and present novel approaches to source and illumination system design for reduced cost-of-ownership NR inspection and other NDE applications. Starfire’s technology value proposition based on four factors: (a) small system size, (b) long overall lifetime, (c) high output efficiency and (d) reduced total cost of ownership. In addition, novel moderator designs could lead to relaxed requirements on total neutron flux and radiographic system size for industrial use.