US 11,903,117 B2Granted

Ion beam target assemblies for neutron generation

AssigneePhoenix Neutron Imaging LLC

InventorsRoss Radel, Tye Gribb

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Provided herein are systems, devices, articles of manufacture, and methods for generating neutrons employing a high energy ion beam target (HEM target) and a target backing configured to be in contact with the bottom surface of the HEIB target (e.g., to generate an ion beam target assembly). In certain embodiments, the HEM target has a thickness that is less than the penetration depth of protons or deuterons in the high energy ion beam that strikes the target. In certain embodiments, the target backing comprises a high hydrogen diffusion metal (e.g., palladium), has open spaces dispersed throughout for reduced proton diffusion distances, and has a shape and thickness such that all, or virtually all, of the protons or deuterons that pass through the HEIB target are stopped. Also provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for changing targets in an ion beam accelerator system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

inserting a first target, from a set of at least two targets, into an ion beam accelerator,
activating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that an ion beam strikes the first target, thereby generating neutrons and causing the first target to become a first radioactive target;
removing the first radioactive target from the ion beam accelerator;
inserting a second target, from the set of at least two targets, into the ion beam accelerator;
activating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that an ion beam strikes the second target, thereby generating neutrons and causing the second target to become a second radioactive target;
identifying that the first radioactive target has cooled over time to become substantially or fully non-radiative to generate a cooled first target, and inserting the cooled first target into the ion beam accelerator;
and
activating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that an ion beam strikes the cooled first target, thereby generating neutrons and causing the first cooled target to become a re-radioactive first target.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/110,090Filed 15 Feb 2023 · continuation
Priority: 6 Jun 2018
Published: US 2023/0209695 A129 Jun 2023
Granted: 13 Feb 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H05H 6/00
Targets for producing nuclear reactions
H05H 3/06
Production or acceleration of neutral particle beams, e.g. molecular or atomic beams: generating neutron beams
Y02E 30/10
Energy generation of nuclear origin: nuclear fusion reactors
H05H
Plasma technique

Family

Application62/681,432Us provisional application · filed 6 Jun 2018
Application16/430,839Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Jun 2019
Application17/130,190Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Dec 2020
US 10,874,013 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Dec 2020
US 2023/0209695 A1Pre-grant publication · published 29 Jun 2023
US 11,612,048 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2019/0380195 A1Published application
US 2021/0112653 A1Published application
US 11,903,117 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.