Advanced Neutron Source for Radiography & Tomography

Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation proposes to design in Phase I a pulsed neutron source based on dense plasma focus (DPF) technology that is practical for thermal neutron radiography. A fully operational source will be fabricated in Phase II. The neutron production/pulse by available sources and the resultant thermal flux on target are estimated to be about five orders of magnitude below what is required for radiography at practical source-to-sample distances. This proposal is to demonstrate that we can reduce the gap between requirement and present capability by several orders of magnitude, by exploiting the strong (I10) scaling of neutron output with pulsed DPF current in the range 300-500 kA. Since the neutron yield of DT is about 100 times that of DD, a practical source for thermal neutron radiography would be within reach, if not through the DD reaction, then through the DT reaction. We envisage a 1.5 m3 DPF source that can be carried around on a flat-bed truck and operates with two different moderators: a thermal neutron source to fit the Army's radiography needs and a ~250 keV homeland security source, for high sensitivity detection of fissile materials in improvised targets that use larger quantities of masking materials.