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US 12,230,412 B2Granted
Systems and methods employing interchangeable ion beam targets
AssigneeSHINE Technologies, LLC
InventorsLucas Jacobson, Tye Gribb, Ross Radel, Evan Sengbusch, Preston Barrows, Eli Moll
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Abstract
Provided herein are systems and methods for generating a plurality of different monoenergetic neutron energies using a plurality of interchangeable ion beam targets. In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of ion beam targets is configured to generate a monoenergetic energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from the other ion beam targets. In some embodiments, the ion beam targets are composed of LiF, TID1.5-1.8, TiT1-2, ErD1.5, ErT, or Li.
Claims43
A method comprising:
- inserting a first target, from a set of at least two ion beam targets, into an ion beam accelerator that generates an accelerated ion beam;
- activating said ion beam accelerator for a length of time such than an accelerated ion beam strikes said first target, thereby generating neutrons with a first monoenergetic neutron energy value;
- removing said first target from said ion beam accelerator;
- inserting a second target, from said set of at least two targets, into said ion beam accelerator;
- and
- activating said ion beam accelerator for a length of time such than an ion beam strikes said second target, thereby generating neutrons with a second monoenergetic neutron energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from said first monoenergetic neutron energy value;
- directing the ion beam onto a collimator having a plurality of fingers, wherein a first portion of the ion beam strikes the collimator and a second portion of the ion beam passes through a central opening of the collimator;
- and
- measuring a beam current of the first portion of the ion beam using the collimator.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- inserting a first target, from a set of at least two ion beam targets, into an ion beam accelerator that generates an accelerated ion beam;
- activating said ion beam accelerator for a length of time such than an accelerated ion beam strikes said first target, thereby generating neutrons with a first monoenergetic neutron energy value;
- removing said first target from said ion beam accelerator;
- inserting a second target, from said set of at least two targets, into said ion beam accelerator;
- and
- activating said ion beam accelerator for a length of time such than an ion beam strikes said second target, thereby generating neutrons with a second monoenergetic neutron energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from said first monoenergetic neutron energy value;
- directing the ion beam onto a collimator having a plurality of fingers, wherein a first portion of the ion beam strikes the collimator and a second portion of the ion beam passes through a central opening of the collimator;
- and
- prior to directing the ion beam onto the collimator, directing the first portion and the second portion of the ion beam into a beam dump, measuring a total beam current of the ion beam using the beam dump, and retracting the beam dump away from a pathway of the ion beam.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- inserting a first target, from a set of at least two ion beam targets, into an ion beam accelerator that generates an accelerated ion beam;
- activating said ion beam accelerator for a length of time such than an accelerated ion beam strikes said first target, thereby generating neutrons with a first monoenergetic neutron energy value;
- removing said first target from said ion beam accelerator;
- inserting a second target, from said set of at least two targets, into said ion beam accelerator;
- and
- activating said ion beam accelerator for a length of time such than an ion beam strikes said second target, thereby generating neutrons with a second monoenergetic neutron energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from said first monoenergetic neutron energy value;
- directing the ion beam onto a collimator having a plurality of fingers, wherein the plurality of fingers collectively forms an annulus having a central opening, and wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprises:
- a proton sink positioned at an inner perimeter of the annulus, radially adjacent the central opening;
- a heat sink positioned at an outer perimeter of the annulus;
- and
- an isolated cooling circuit, wherein each respective cooling circuit is isolated from one another and configured to perform calorimetry.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.