Ion source and neutron generator
AssigneeSHINE Technologies, LLC
InventorsGregory Piefer, Richard Sisson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nuclear reaction generator includes a chamber configured to contain a gas and including a target. The nuclear reaction generator also includes a filament provided inside the chamber and a voltage source configured to apply a first positive voltage to the filament relative to the chamber. The first positive voltage is configured to heat the filament to a temperature at which thermionic emission occurs and a plurality of thermions are generated, and the plurality of thermions is configured to ionize the gas to generate positive ions in the chamber. The target is configured such that nuclear reactions occur when the positive ions interact with the target.
Claims30
An ion source comprising:
- a chamber configured to contain a gas and comprising a first end and a second end;
- an acceleration grid positioned in the chamber, oriented along a first direction extending between the first end and the second end of the chamber, surrounding an open center region of the chamber, and comprising a plurality of apertures spaced around the open center region of the chamber;
- a plurality of filaments provided in the chamber, oriented along the first direction, and spaced around a circumference of the acceleration grid such that the plurality of filaments surround the acceleration grid;
- and
- a voltage source configured to apply a first positive voltage to the plurality of filaments relative to the chamber and a second positive voltage to the acceleration grid relative to the chamber;
- wherein:
- the first positive voltage is configured to heat the plurality of filaments to a temperature at which thermionic emission occurs and a plurality of thermions are generated;
- the plurality of thermions is configured to ionize the gas to generate positive ions;
- and
- the plurality of apertures allow the positive ions to pass through the acceleration grid and into or out of the open center region of the chamber.
A nuclear reaction generator comprising:
- a chamber configured to contain a gas, comprising a first end and a second end, and providing a target configured for neutron generation;
- an acceleration grid positioned in the chamber, oriented along a first direction extending between the first end and the second end of the chamber, surrounding an open center region of the chamber, and comprising a plurality of apertures spaced around the open center region of the chamber;
- a plurality of filaments provided in the chamber, oriented along the first direction, and spaced around a circumference of the acceleration grid such that the plurality of filaments surround the acceleration grid;
- and
- a voltage source configured to apply a first positive voltage to the plurality of filaments relative to the chamber and a second positive voltage to the acceleration grid relative to the chamber;
- wherein:
- the first positive voltage is configured to heat the plurality of filaments to a temperature at which thermionic emission occurs and a plurality of thermions are generated;
- the plurality of thermions is configured to ionize the gas to generate positive ions in the chamber;
- and
- the plurality of apertures allow the positive ions to pass through the acceleration grid and into or out of the open center region of the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.