EP0338619B1 - Hochflussneutronengenerator mit langlebigem Target - Google Patents

Hochflussneutronengenerator mit langlebigem Target Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0338619B1
EP0338619B1 EP89200928A EP89200928A EP0338619B1 EP 0338619 B1 EP0338619 B1 EP 0338619B1 EP 89200928 A EP89200928 A EP 89200928A EP 89200928 A EP89200928 A EP 89200928A EP 0338619 B1 EP0338619 B1 EP 0338619B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
layer
target
titanium
layers
neutron generator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP89200928A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0338619A1 (de
Inventor
Gérard Verschoore
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SODERN SA
Koninklijke Philips NV
Original Assignee
SODERN SA
Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Philips Electronics NV
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Publication date
Application filed by SODERN SA, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, Philips Electronics NV filed Critical SODERN SA
Publication of EP0338619A1 publication Critical patent/EP0338619A1/de
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Publication of EP0338619B1 publication Critical patent/EP0338619B1/de
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H6/00—Targets for producing nuclear reactions
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H3/00—Production or acceleration of neutral particle beams, e.g. molecular or atomic beams
    • H05H3/06—Generating neutron beams

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a high flux neutron generator with a target struck by a beam of isotope ions of hydrogen, said target being constituted by a structure comprising a metal layer with a high absorption coefficient with respect to the hydrogen, produced on a support layer made of a metal with a high coefficient of heat conductivity and a low degree of volatilization.
  • Such generators such as that described in patent FR-A 2 438 953 , are used for example in techniques for examining matter by fast, thermal, epithermal or cold neutrons.
  • Neutrons are generated by reactions between nuclei of the heavy isotopes of hydrogen: deuterium and tritium. These reactions occur because a target, containing deuterium and tritium, is subjected to the bombardment of a beam of deuterium ions and tritium ions accelerated under a high potential difference.
  • the deuterium ions and the tritium ions are formed in an ion source in which a gaseous mixture of deuterium and tritium is ionized.
  • the collision between a deuterium nucleus and a tritium nucleus provides a neutron with an energy of 14 MeV, and a particle - ⁇ with an energy of 3.6 MeV.
  • a commonly used means for making such targets with isotopes of hydrogen consists in fixing the nuclei in the crystal lattice of a hydrurable material.
  • titanium is often used because of its lower stopping power, which results in better neutron yield.
  • these materials have the drawback of insufficient mechanical strength when the hydrogen concentration is high and the material in "thick layer" (disintegration phenomenon causing the dispersion of metal particles, which is detrimental to the voltage withstand of the devices ion beam acceleration).
  • a copper support for example, partially meets these criteria but has a high sputtering coefficient.
  • a target with good mechanical strength is difficult to achieve with this support because the coefficient of linear expansion of titanium is very different from that of copper.
  • the lifetime of the target would be very limited because after erosion of the titanium layer at the places of high density of the ion beam, the copper of the support would quickly be pulverized on the surrounding titanium surface and would considerably slow down the energy of the ions and consequently the yield of neutrons; this would lead simultaneously to the piercing of the support layer.
  • One way of avoiding this phenomenon is to form an intermediate layer of a material such as molybdenum, more resistant to ionic erosion and less permeable to hydrogen, between the support layer and the hydrogen-absorbing surface metal layer. to its isotopes.
  • concentration of hydrogen ions in the surface layer increases rapidly until a state of equilibrium is established in which the quantity of hydrogen which penetrates into said surface layer is equal to that which leaves it by diffusion.
  • the beam is made up of an equimolecular deuterium-tritium mixture so that the ions extracted from the source and implanted in the target after acceleration do not lead to a depletion of the target nuclei in favor of the nuclei of the beam.
  • the ion implantation of the beam takes place in layers of the support materials, the stopping power of which, much higher than in the active layer, causes the neutron emission to drop considerably, leading to the end of the operational life of the tube .
  • the object of the invention is to provide a neutron generator with a target which is struck by a beam of hydrogen ions, the lifetime of this target subject to the influence of an ion beam bombardment. high intensity being longer than the lifetime of known neutron generator targets.
  • the neutron generator of the kind mentioned in the preamble is remarkable in that the activated layer with high absorption coefficient consists of a stack of 2 to 5 identical metallic layers isolated from each other by a diffusion barrier, the thickness of said layers with a high absorption coefficient being equal for example to the penetration depth of the deuterium ions which strike the target.
  • limiting the diffusion of tritium to the thickness of a layer makes it possible not to dilute the concentration of the target nuclei beyond the beam penetration zone, which has the double advantage of accelerating the impregnating the target and improving the neutron yield.
  • Another advantage consists in the reduction of the total amount of deuterium-tritium mixture necessary for the functioning of the tube, especially marked with regard to the amount of tritium which is known to decompose progressively into He3, which correlatively increases the pressure residual in the tube.
  • the metal of the highly hydrogen permeable layers belongs to the group comprising titanium, zirconium, scandium, yttrium and lanthanides, while the metal forming the support layer belongs to the group comprising molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, chromium and niobium.
  • Diffusion barriers can be developed by chemical means such as nitriding in reactive plasma, deposition of passivated layer by oxidation or by physical means such as deposition of an appropriate metallic layer, ion implantation, etc.
  • Figure 1a is a schematic longitudinal section of a neutron generator equipped with the target according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1b represents on a larger scale a part of the target of the generator represented by FIG. 1a.
  • an envelope 1 contains a gaseous mixture in equal proportions of deuterium and tritium under a pressure of the order of a few tenths of Pascals (thousandths of a millimeter of mercury).
  • This gas mixture is supplied via a pressure regulator 2.
  • the gas pressure is controlled using an ionization pressure gauge 3.
  • the mixture of deuterium and tritium is ionized in the ion source 4 and an ion beam is extracted therefrom by the acceleration electrode 5 secured to the casing 1 and cooled at 6 by a circulation of water. With respect to this electrode 5, the anode 7 is brought to a positive very high voltage potential (+ THT).
  • the ion source 4 of the Penning type further comprises two cathodes 8 and 9 brought to the same negative potential of the order of 5 kV relative to the anode 7 and a permanent magnet 10 creating an axial magnetic field and the magnetic circuit is closed by the ferromagnetic socket 11 which envelops the ion source 4.
  • the positive high voltage + THT is applied to the source by the cable 12, the end of which is surrounded by the insulating sleeves 13 and 14.
  • the ion beam passes through the suppressor electrode 15 and strikes the target 16 cooled at 17 by a circulation of water. Part of this target is shown on a larger scale in Figure 1b.
  • the target 16 consists of a molybdenum substrate 18 forming the support layer on which a titanium layer 19 is formed.
  • a first hydrogen diffusion barrier 20 is successively produced, followed by a titanium layer. 21, then in the same way, the diffusion barriers 22, 24 and 26 alternating with the titanium layers 23, 25 and 27 respectively, which have the same thickness.
  • the choice of the thickness of said layers is related to the penetration depth of the deuterium ions coming to strike the titanium target to generate there by collision with the implanted tritium ions, a neutron emission of 14 MeV. This avoids the depletion of the surface concentration of the target in tritium nuclei which would result from their diffusion towards the inside of a thicker layer.
  • the regeneration of the tritium target nuclei is suitably ensured if the deuterium-tritium mixture inside the neutron tube of FIG. 1a is found in equal amounts.
  • step by step after each piercing of a diffusion barrier, we will impregnate the underlying titanium layer while preventing the next barrier by diffusion penetration of tritium ions to the lower layers.
  • concentration rate of hydrogen ions in the successive titanium layers and consequently the level of neutron emission are kept substantially constant as these successive layers are eroded.
  • This method of obtaining diffusion barriers by nitriding in reactive plasma is not limiting. It obviously does not exclude the use of barriers obtained by any other chemical process such as oxidation, or physical process such as the deposition of intermediate metallic layers or barriers produced by ion implantation.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Particle Accelerators (AREA)
  • Physical Vapour Deposition (AREA)
  • Electron Sources, Ion Sources (AREA)

Claims (4)

  1. Neutronengenerator mit einem Target, das ein Wasserisotopen-Ionenbündel trifft, wobei das Target aus einer Struktur mit einer aktiven Schicht aus einer metallischen Schicht mit höherem Absorptionskoeffizienten in bezug auf Wasserstoff besteht, die auf einer Trägerschicht angebracht ist, die aus einem Metall mit großem Leitfähigkeitskoeffizienten und mit einem schwachen Verdunstungsgrad verwirklicht wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die aktive Schicht mit höherem Absorptionskoeffizienten in bezug auf Wasserstoff aus einer Stapelung von 2 bis 5 gleichen Schichten besteht, die durch eine Diffusionsbarriere voneinander isoliert sind.
  2. Neutronengenerator nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Metall dieser Schicht mit höherem Absorptionskoeffizienten in bezug auf Wasserstoff zur Gruppe mit Titan, Zircon, Scandium, Yttrium und den Lanthaniden gehört, während das die Trägerschicht bildende Metall zur Gruppe mit Molybdän, Wolfram, Tantal, Chrom und Niob gehört.
  3. Neutronengenerator nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Diffusionsbarrieren aus Titannitridschichten bestehen.
  4. Target für einen Neutronengenerator nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche.
EP89200928A 1988-04-19 1989-04-13 Hochflussneutronengenerator mit langlebigem Target Expired - Lifetime EP0338619B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8805147 1988-04-19
FR8805147A FR2630251B1 (fr) 1988-04-19 1988-04-19 Generateur de neutrons a haut flux avec cible a grande duree de vie

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0338619A1 EP0338619A1 (de) 1989-10-25
EP0338619B1 true EP0338619B1 (de) 1995-07-19

Family

ID=9365435

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89200928A Expired - Lifetime EP0338619B1 (de) 1988-04-19 1989-04-13 Hochflussneutronengenerator mit langlebigem Target

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US4935194A (de)
EP (1) EP0338619B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH01312500A (de)
DE (1) DE68923476T2 (de)
FR (1) FR2630251B1 (de)

Families Citing this family (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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WO1990014670A1 (en) * 1989-05-02 1990-11-29 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. Isotope deposition, stimulation, and direct energy conversion for nuclear fusion in a solid
WO1992012415A1 (en) * 1990-12-31 1992-07-23 General Research Corporation Contraband detection apparatus and method
US5942206A (en) * 1991-08-23 1999-08-24 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Concentration of isotopic hydrogen by temperature gradient effect in soluble metal
FR2710782A1 (fr) * 1993-09-29 1995-04-07 Sodern Tube neutronique à confinement magnétique des électrons par aimants permanents et son procédé de fabrication.
US5446288A (en) * 1993-10-25 1995-08-29 Tumer; Tumay O. Integrated substance detection instrument
US5557108A (en) * 1993-10-25 1996-09-17 T+E,Uml U+Ee Mer; T+E,Uml U+Ee May O. Integrated substance detection and identification system
JP2844304B2 (ja) 1994-02-15 1999-01-06 日本原子力研究所 プラズマ対向材料
WO1996003751A1 (en) * 1994-07-21 1996-02-08 Gregory Lowell Millspaugh Method of and system for controlling energy, including in fusion reactors
DE69507036T2 (de) * 1994-08-19 1999-07-29 Nycomed Amersham Plc Supraleitendes zyklotron und zur erzeugung schwererer isotope benutzes ziel
US5784423A (en) * 1995-09-08 1998-07-21 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Method of producing molybdenum-99
US6208704B1 (en) 1995-09-08 2001-03-27 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Production of radioisotopes with a high specific activity by isotopic conversion
IT1292817B1 (it) * 1997-03-20 1999-02-11 Renzo Boscoli Metodo e macchina per la produzione di energia tramite reazioni di fusione nucleare.
JP3122081B2 (ja) * 1998-11-25 2001-01-09 石油公団 中性子発生管
US6441569B1 (en) 1998-12-09 2002-08-27 Edward F. Janzow Particle accelerator for inducing contained particle collisions
US7176469B2 (en) * 2002-05-22 2007-02-13 The Regents Of The University Of California Negative ion source with external RF antenna
US6975072B2 (en) * 2002-05-22 2005-12-13 The Regents Of The University Of California Ion source with external RF antenna
US20050135533A1 (en) * 2003-01-16 2005-06-23 Soc. Anonyme D'etudes Et Realisations Nucleaires Coded target for neutron source
JP4994589B2 (ja) * 2004-11-08 2012-08-08 住友重機械工業株式会社 放射性同位元素製造用ターゲット
EP1880393A2 (de) * 2005-04-29 2008-01-23 Lewis G. Larsen Vorrichtung und verfahren zur erzeugung von neutronen mit ultraniedrigem impuls
JP5004072B2 (ja) * 2006-05-17 2012-08-22 学校法人慶應義塾 イオン照射効果評価方法、プロセスシミュレータ及びデバイスシミュレータ
CN101978429B (zh) * 2008-02-27 2015-04-29 星火工业有限公司 寿命长的高效中子发生器
JP5522562B2 (ja) * 2009-09-09 2014-06-18 独立行政法人日本原子力研究開発機構 イットリウム放射性同位体からなる放射性医薬並びにその製造方法及び装置
FR2953091B1 (fr) 2009-11-25 2012-01-06 Mofakhami Florence Procede pour generer des neutrons.
US10764987B2 (en) 2009-11-25 2020-09-01 Neusca Sas Method for generating neutrons
US20110216866A1 (en) * 2010-03-08 2011-09-08 Timothy Raymond Pearson Method and apparatus for the production of nuclear fusion
RU2467429C1 (ru) * 2011-04-12 2012-11-20 Российская Федерация, от имени которой выступает Государственная корпорация по атомной энергии "Росатом" Импульсная ускорительная трубка
JP5888760B2 (ja) * 2012-03-06 2016-03-22 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所 中性子発生源および当該中性子発生源の製造方法、中性子発生装置
CN105407622B (zh) * 2014-09-11 2018-04-20 邱慈云 核素轰击的靶、轰击系统和方法
CN108934120B (zh) * 2017-05-26 2024-04-12 南京中硼联康医疗科技有限公司 用于中子线产生装置的靶材及中子捕获治疗系统
DE102018007843B3 (de) * 2018-10-01 2020-01-16 Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Verfahren zum Auffinden eines Targetmaterials und Targetmaterial für eine Neutronenquelle
EP4298870A1 (de) * 2021-04-02 2024-01-03 TAE Technologies, Inc. Materialien und konfigurationen zum schutz von objektivmaterialien

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DE2009049A1 (de) * 1970-02-26 1971-09-09 Nukem Gmbh Target zur Neutronenerzeugung in Be schleunigungsanlagen
US3963934A (en) * 1972-05-16 1976-06-15 Atomic Energy Of Canada Limited Tritium target for neutron source
US3924137A (en) * 1974-08-27 1975-12-02 Nasa Deuterium pass through target
NL7810299A (nl) * 1978-10-13 1980-04-15 Philips Nv Neutronengenerator met een trefplaat.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4935194A (en) 1990-06-19
DE68923476T2 (de) 1996-03-14
EP0338619A1 (de) 1989-10-25
JPH01312500A (ja) 1989-12-18
DE68923476D1 (de) 1995-08-24
FR2630251B1 (fr) 1990-08-17
FR2630251A1 (fr) 1989-10-20

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