High-Current Cockcroft-Walton Accelerator for Neutron Production

Abstract

The 200‐kev deuteron accelerator described utilizes a water‐cooled T‐Zr film as a source of 14‐Mev neutrons. High voltage is provided by a Cockcroft‐Walton generator of six oil‐filled stages, operated at 32 kc. An rf ion source provides up to 15 ma (90 percent deuterons), at least 10 ma of which can be focused on the target. A system of forced water cooling allows at least 5 ma (at 120 kev) to be used in bombarding the target foil without reaching a surface temperature of 100°C. Observed neutron yield is approximately 2×10⁹ neutrons/sec ma from a target containing roughly one tritium atom per four of zirconium.