Development and performance characterization of a compact plasma focus based portable fast neutron generator

The design details and performance characterization results of a newly developed plasma focus based compact and portable system (0.5 m × 0.5 m × 1.2 m, weighing ≈100 kg) that produces an average neutron yield of ~2 × 10⁸ neutrons/shot (of fast D-D neutrons with typical energy ~2.45 MeV) at ~1.8 kJ energy discharge are reported. From the detailed analysis of the experimental characterization and simulation results of this system, it has been conclusively revealed that specifically in plasma focus devices with larger static inductance: (i) pinch current is a reliable and more valid neutron yield scaling parameter than peak current, (ii) the ratio of pinch/peak current improves as static inductance of the system reduces, (iii) the benign role of the higher static/pinch inductance ratio enables the supply of inductively stored energy in densely pinched plasma with a larger time constant and it is well depicted by the extended dip observed in the discharge current trace, (iv) there is the need to redefine existing index values of the pinch (Ipinch ^4.7) and peak (Ipeak ^3.9) currents in neutron yield scaling equations to higher values.     

兰州大学的中子发生器研制及应用展望

1988年兰州大学成功研制了3×10¹² s^-1的ZF-300强流中子发生器,主要用于核数据测量、材料辐照损伤等研究。为进一步开展活化法中子核数据测量、裂变物理等研究,兰州大学启动了基于倍压加速器的ZF-400强流中子发生器研制工程,该中子发生器的设计指标为D束流能量400 keV、D束流强度大于30 mA、D-D中子产额大于5×10¹⁰ s^-1,D-T中子产额大于5×10¹² s^-1。在裂变物理研究方面,已成功发展了描述裂变核断点裂变势的势驱动模型（potential-driving model）,并开展了中子诱发典型锕系核素裂变发射中子前裂变产物的质量分布计算研究;将potential-driving model植入Geant4程序,发展了用于裂变发射中子后裂变产物质量分布、动能分布、裂变中子能谱等模拟的蒙特卡罗方法,并开展了可靠性评估研究;研制了一套用于裂变产物实验测量的双屏栅电离室（TFGIC）,并完成了初步实验测试。在中子应用技术方面,为满足小型化中子应用技术系统的研发需求,兰州大学成功研制了长度984 mm、直径234 mm的紧凑型中子发生器,通过在引出加速电极和靶之间加电阻的方式产生偏置电场,实现对靶上二次电子的抑制。在自注入靶条件和150 keV氘束流能量下,D-D中子产额可大于5×10⁸ s^-1,该中子发生器已具备产生D-T中子产额大于10¹⁰ s^-1量级的潜力。完成了基于紧凑型D-T中子发生器的快中子准直屏蔽体的设计,并研发了基于微通道板的快中子成像探测器,初步D-T快中成像测试显示,图像空间分辨率约为500 μm。开展了基于紧凑型D-D中子发生器的核燃料棒²³⁵U富集度及均匀性检测系统研发,仿真研究表明,在D-D中子产额5×10⁸ s^-1条件下,对核燃料棒中10%范围内的²³⁵U富集度相对变化的检测置信度可达到99%。     

Calcuiational Method for Neutron Heating in Dense Plasma Systems, (II)

Abstract

The effect of neutron heating on the burn characteristics of inertial confinement fusion pellets is investigated by applying the calcuiational method developed in an earlier paper (Part I). The basic equations are time-dependent transport equations for fusion neutrons and recoil ions, being written in terms of the modified Eulerian coordinates originally proposed by Wienke (1974). After incorporating these equations into the one-dimensional hydrodynamics code MEDUSA, burn simulations are made for isobaric D-T pellets models compressed to 1,000 times the liquid density. It is found that in reactor-grade pellets, the inclusion of neutron heating decreases the fuel gain from the values obtained by neglecting the neutron heating. Calculations neglecting the energy transport by recoil ions overestimate the neutron energy deposition to plasma ions. The energy spectrum of neutrons emitted out of a typical D-T burning pellet is also shown. These neutrons contain fast components whose energies reach more than 20MeV.     

强流氘氚聚变中子源HINEG设计研究

强流氘氚聚变中子源HINEG(High Intensity D-T Fusion Neutron Generator)研发分两期:HINEG-Ⅰ为直流脉冲双模式,已成功产生中子强度1.1×10~(12)n/s的氘氚聚变中子,并实现连续稳定运行;HINEG-Ⅱ中子强度设计指标为10~(14)~10~(15)n/s量级,重点突破强流离子源和高载热氚靶技术。HNEG中子源可开展中子学方法程序与核数据、辐射屏蔽与防护、材料活化与辐照损伤机理和部件中子学性能等核能与核安全研究,同时也可在核医学与放射治疗、中子照相等领域拓展核技术应用研究。本文简要介绍HINEG总体设计方案与关键技术研究进展。     

全超导非圆截面托卡马克中性束注入窗口材料活化研究

中性束注入加热为全超导非圆截面托卡马克(EAST)主要辅助加热方式之一.伴随着中性束注入加热,等离子体中子出射强度可达到1014 n/s.由于中性束注入窗口具有较大的开口尺寸,窗口泄露的大量中子可能影响系统的安全稳定运行.本文基于EAST中性束二维模型和蒙特卡洛程序MCNP与材料活化程序FISPACT,研究EAST两条...     

Study the Influence of the Bank Energy on the Dynamical Pinch in Plasma Focus

The plasma focus discharge can generate, accelerate and pinch the plasma up to high density and temperature in a pulsed mode manner. Applications aspects of discharge require high efficiency of the fusion products. This situation acquires optimized operational parameters for the proper discharge. In this article, we have studied the plasma parameters and neutron performance dependency on bank energy. First, analytical expressions are derived from the equation of motion for the plasma particles in the radial phase. Then, the related fusion neutrons, both thermal and non-thermal, together with the discharge anisotropy in the low pressure regimes for the ‘Dena’ plasma focus device as function of bank energy are presented. The analytic models are compared with experimental data.     

14 MeV快中子照相准直屏蔽系统的设计与优化

基于强流氘氚中子源科学装置HINEG设计了一套快中子照相准直屏蔽系统。采用中子输运设计与安全评价软件系统SuperMC和ENDF/B-Ⅶ.0数据库计算了准直中子束的中子能谱及注量率、γ射线能谱及注量率、直射中子注量率与γ射线注量率比值（φ_d/φ_γ）、直射与散射中子注量率比值（φ_d/φ_s）、准直束中子注量率的不均匀度等特性参数,并采用MCNP5程序进行了对比验证。研究了准直屏蔽系统的内衬材料、尺寸等对特性参数的影响规律,并通过优化获取了最优设计方案。计算结果显示,在同等计算条件下,SuperMC计算结果与MCNP计算结果相对偏差小于1%,准直屏蔽系统的φ_d/φ_γ为50.1,φ_d/φ_s为5.7,在Φ30 cm视野范围内的中子注量率为4.80×10⁷ cm^-2•s^-1,其中直射中子注量率为4.09×10⁷ cm^-2•s^-1,中子注量率不均匀度为5.8%,满足快中子照相对准直束特性参数的要求。     

AB-BNCT中子靶物理设计分析

质子加速器适用于为硼中子俘获治疗提供中子源,其中子源强及能谱较反应堆中子源更具可调性。中子靶物理计算分析是加速器中子源设计的基础,为其提供粒子能量、流强等参数需求分析,并为靶体结构尺寸设计、中子慢化和屏蔽分析等提供前端参数。本文利用MCNPX蒙特卡罗程序,通过对质子打靶的中子产额和能谱、靶体能量沉积、打靶后靶材放射性活度和中子出射空间角分布等进行研究,提出能量2.5 MeV质子轰击100～200 μm锂靶的设计,并用模拟计算数据论证其合理性。该设计中子源在1 mA流强质子轰击下,源强可达9.74×10¹¹ s^-1;拟设计15 mA、2.5 MeV质子束产生的中子源,在治疗过程中靶材放射性活度累积最大值约为1.44×10¹³ Bq。     

Experimental investigation on the evolution of plasma properties in the discharge channel of a pulsed plasma thruster

Pulsed plasma thrusters(PPTs) are an attractive form of micro-thrusters due to advantages such as their compactness and lightweight design compared to other electric propulsion systems.Experimental investigations on their plasma properties are beneficial in clarifying the complex process of plasma evolution during the micro-second pulse discharge of a PPT. In this work, the multi-dimensional evolutions of the light intensity of the PPT plasma with wavelength, time, and position were identified. The plasma pressure was obtained using an iterative process with composition calculations. The results show that significant ion recombination occurred in the discharge channel since the line intensities of CII, CIII, CIV, and FII decreased and those of CI and FI increased as the plasma moved downstream. At the center of the discharge channel, the electron temperature and electron density were in the order of 10 000 K and 10~(17) cm~(-3),respectively. These had maximum values of 13 750 K and 2.3?×?10~(17) cm~(-3) and the maximum temperature occurred during the first half-cycle while the maximum number density was measured during the second half-cycle. The estimated plasma pressure was in the order of 10~5 Pa and exhibited a maximum value of 2.69?×?10~5 Pa.     

High-energy-density electron beam generation in ultra intense laser-plasma interaction

By using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation,we demonstrate a scheme for highenergy-density electron beam generation by irradiating an ultra intense laser pulse onto an aluminum(Al) target.With the laser having a peak intensity of 4?×?1023W cm~(-2),a high quality electron beam with a maximum density of 117 ncand a kinetic energy density up to8.79?×?1018J m~(-3) is generated.The temperature of the electron beam can be 416 Me V,and the beam divergence is only 7.25°.As the laser peak intensity increases(e.g.,1024 W cm~(-2)),both the beam energy density(3.56?×?1019J m~(-3)) and the temperature(545 Me V) are increased,and the beam collimation is well controlled.The maximum density of the electron beam can even reach 180 nc.Such beams should have potential applications in the areas of antiparticle generation,laboratory astrophysics,etc.     

利用HFETR制备有载体177Lu

¹⁷⁷Lu是一种优良的诊疗一体化医用放射性核素,其标记的放射性药物被广泛用于多种癌症的诊断和治疗。其中,有载体¹⁷⁷Lu的制备具有放射化学处理简单、¹⁷⁷Lu产量高等优点。为此,在高通量工程试验堆(HFETR)中利用热中子辐照¹⁷⁶Lu,开展有载体¹⁷⁷Lu的制备研究。本研究分别辐照天然Lu和富集¹⁷⁶Lu进行热实验验证,结果表明：天然Lu在2×10¹⁴ n·cm^-2·s^-1热中子通量下辐照13 d,生成¹⁷⁷Lu比活度约为0.87 Ci/mg,^177mLu杂质含量为0.009%;富集(86.5%)¹⁷⁶Lu在热中子注量率为1×10¹⁴ n·cm^-2·s^-1条件下辐照28 d,生成¹⁷⁷Lu比活度约为24.9 Ci/mg,^177m...     

Estimation of plasma density perturbation from dusty plasma injection by laser irradiation on tungsten target in DiPS

To investigate the interaction of dusty plasma with magnetized plasmas at divertor plasma simulator, radial profiles of plasma density(ne) and electron temperature were measured in terms of plasma discharge currents and magnetic flux intensity by using a fast scanning probes system with triple tips. Dusty plasma with dusts(a generation rate of 3 μg s~(-1) and a size of 1–10 μm)was produced via interactions between a high-power laser beam and a full tungsten target. As ne increases, the scale of the effects of dusty plasma injection on magnetized plasmas was decreased. Also, the duration of transient fluctuation was reduced. For numerical estimation of plasma density perturbation due to dusty plasma injection, the result was ~10% at a core region of the magnetized plasma with n_e of(2–5)×10~(11) cm~(-3) at steady state condition.     

高产额中子发生器研制

本文介绍了用于安检辐射成像的高产额中子管及中子发生器装置的主要性能指标和研发设计过程。中子管离子源采用冷阴极潘宁离子源,在引出阴极加磁钢,提高引出离子浓度。离子光学系统采用单电极加速结构,靶端通过外加电阻产生抑制电压,减小靶流,提高中子管工作稳定性。对中子管离子源和靶端通过散热结构设计和利用变压器油进行散热,效果良好。通过对中子管的各项性能参数进行测试,离子流可达50 mA以上,引出束流接近1 mA,中子产额达1.1×10¹⁰s^-1。研发的高产额中子管及发生器装置具有产额高、工作稳定、安全便携等优点,达到了设计目的。     

Neutron-induced radiation damage in silicon detectors

Ion-implanted silicon pad detectors fabricated on different n-type and p-type silicon wafers with initial resistivities between 2.6 and 12.9 kΩcm were irradiated with neutrons of ~1 MeV energy, up to a fluence of 5×10¹³ n cm^-2. The evolution of diode leakage current and capacitance characteristics is presented as a function of the neutron fluence. The reverse diode current increases proportionally to the neutron fluence. There is evidence that the doping of the initial n-type material evolves towards intrinsic and inverts to an apparent p-type at fluences between 1×10¹³ and 3×10¹³ n cm^-2, depending on the initial silicon resistivity. There is also evidence that p-type material remains of the same conduction type with a slight increase of the acceptor doping with fluence. The signal shape and the charge collection efficiency for incident β particles were measured     

Bright γ-ray source with large orbital angular momentum from the laser near-critical-plasma interaction

We propose a new laser-plasma-based method to generate bright γ-rays carrying large orbital angular momentum by interacting a circularly polarized Laguerre–Gaussian laser pulse with a near-critical hydrogen plasma confined in an over-dense solid tube. In the first stage of the interaction, it is found via fully relativistic three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations that high-energy helical electron beams with large orbital angular momentum are generated. In the second stage, this electron beam interacts with the laser pulse reflected from the plasma disc behind the solid tube, and helical γ beams are generated with the same topological structure as the electron beams. The results show that the electrons receive angular momentum from the drive laser, which can be further transferred to the γ photons during the interaction. The γ beam orbital angular momentum is strongly dependent on the laser topological charge l and laser intensity a0, which scales as ${L}_{\gamma }\propto {a}_{0}^{4}$. A short (duration of 5 fs) isolated helical γ beam with an angular momentum of −3.3 × 10⁻¹⁴ kg m² s⁻¹ is generated using the Laguerre–Gaussian laser pulse with l = 2. The peak brightness of the helical γ beam reaches 1.22 × 10²⁴ photons s⁻¹ mm⁻² mrad⁻² per 0.1% BW (at 10 MeV), and the laser-to-γ-ray angular momentum conversion rate is approximately 2.1%.     

Effects on channeling of radiation damage due to 28 GeV protons

For an irradiation of 2.9 × 10¹⁹ protons at a beam energy of 28 GeV, the channeling minimum yield in a silicon single crystal increased from 2.3% to 4.1%. The radiation damage occurred with a proton fluence of (4.1 ± 1.4) × 10²⁰/cm². The degradation was measured with MeV-range He ions using Rutherford backscattering. The relevance to bent crystal extraction of TeV beams is discussed.     

Development of a helicon-wave excited plasma facility with high magnetic field for plasma-wall interactions studies

The high magnetic field helicon experiment system is a helicon wave plasma(HWP)source device in a high axial magnetic field(B_0)developed for plasma–wall interactions studies for fusion reactors.This HWP was realized at low pressure(5?×?10~(-3)?-?10 Pa)and a RF(radio frequency,13.56 MHz)power(maximum power of 2 k W)using an internal right helical antenna(5 cm in diameter by 18 cm long)with a maximum B_0of 6300 G.Ar HWP with electron density~10~(18)–10~(20)m~(-3)and electron temperature~4–7 e V was produced at high B_0 of 5100 G,with an RF power of 1500 W.Maximum Ar~+ion flux of 7.8?×?10~(23)m~(-2)s~(-1)with a bright blue core plasma was obtained at a high B_0 of 2700 G and an RF power of 1500 W without bias.Plasma energy and mass spectrometer studies indicate that Ar~+ion-beams of 40.1 eV are formed,which are supersonic(~3.1c_s).The effect of Ar HWP discharge cleaning on the wall conditioning are investigated by using the mass spectrometry.And the consequent plasma parameters will result in favorable wall conditioning with a removal rate of 1.1?×?10~(24)N_2/m~2 h.     

Deuterated liquid scintillator (NE230) as a fast neutron detectorfor cold-fusion and other research

Deuterated scintillators (NE230) can provide, without time-of-flight, usable neutron energy spectra for neutrons E _n⩾1 MeV. The authors have assembled and calibrated several of these detectors and used them in experiments searching for d+d fusion-neutron emission (E_n, 2.5 MeV) in Pd+D ₂O electrolysis and Ti+D₂ adsorption at LN temperatures. The detectors yielded direct fusion-neutron spectra and set limits in the Pd+D and Ti+D experiments of <7×10^-24 fusion n/s/dd pair and <3×10^-24 fusion n/s/dd pair respectively. In addition, these detectors have been used for in-beam accelerator experiments requiring coincidence between fast neutrons and scattered ions     

石墨双晶单色器性能检验及应用

中子能量选择成像作为一种前沿中子成像技术,可实现传统白光中子照相技术无法实现的功能,如研究工程材料中的晶粒分布、应变/应力分布、织构测量和相变分析等。本文依托中国先进研究堆(CARR)上的中子成像测试平台,在国内首次研制了石墨双晶单色器,建立能量选择中子成像技术。飞行时间实验测试结果表明,该双晶石墨单色器在选择4×10^-10 m的中子时波长分辨率可达2.6%,优于3.0%的设计指标。虽然在冷源未开启的实验条件下该石墨双晶单色器产生了较多的次级中子,但基于现有条件开展的镍基高温合金的中子能量选择成像实验能清楚分辨特定取向微晶粒的形貌及分布。结果表明研制的石墨双晶单色器可在CARR上开展能量选择成像实验,随着未来CARR冷源的开启,次级中子数量降低,中子束流品质进一步提高,将开展高质量的中子能量选择成像实验。     

医院中子照射器中子束流出口处热中子注量率的测量

医院中子照射器是基于微型反应堆而设计的专门用于硼中子俘获治疗（BNCT）的核反应堆装置,其额定功率为30 kW。在堆芯相对两侧分别设有一条热中子束流和超热中子束流用于病人照射,在热中子束流内引出一条实验用热中子束流,用于瞬发γ法测量病人血硼浓度。本工作利用²³⁵U裂变靶和白云母探测片测量了热、超热和实验用热中子束流出口处的热中子绝对注量率。结果显示,在30 kW额定功率运行时,热、超热和实验用热中子束流出口处的热中子注量率分别为1.67×10⁹、2.44×10⁷和3.03×10⁶ cm^-2•s^-1。以上结果达到了BNCT设计要求,并能满足瞬发γ测量血硼浓度的要求。