Neutron Generation in a Plasma Diode with Electrons Insulated by a Constant Magnetic Field

Abstract

Neutron generation in a vacuum plasma diode with accelerating voltage to 280 kV and laser source of deuterons in the anode was investigated. The maximum neutron yield in a regime with magnetic insulation of the electrons in the reaction D(d, n)³ He is Q_dd = 5·10⁷ per count, which is 10 times higher than the value without a magnetic field. A hollow cylindrical NdFeB magnet, which is placed inside the vacuum volume of the diode and is also the diode’s cathode, is used to create a magnetic field. The conversion on the basis of numerical modeling showed that the neutron yield in the reaction T(d, n)⁴ He can reach 5·109 per count.