Influence of field ionization on the efficiency of neutron generation

Abstract

The results of experiments on neutron generation caused by nanosecond discharges in a deuterium medium are presented. The experiments are performed using two types of potential electrodes (anodes). One of them is fabricated from steel foil, and the other is composed of tungsten wires with split ends. In both cases, a deuterium-saturated zirconium plate is employed as a flat grounded cathode. With a tungsten anode, deuterium ions generated by field ionization are demonstrated to constitute the determining part of ions involved in the acceleration process and the neutron yield arising from the reaction ²H(d, n)³He is about four times greater than that inherent to the steel-foil anode. In this case, the maximum neutron yield is 1.2 × 10⁴ neutron/ shot, and the duration of neutron emission from the cathode is 1.5 ns.