A hydrocarbon fluid-based deuteron ion source for neutron generators

A deuteron ion source based on a spark discharge between electrodes coated with a deuterated hydrocarbon fluid is investigated. In the prototypic example studied here ion currents extracted from the source were on the order of 0.5 A with a pulse duration of approximately 10 μs. Operation in a laboratory neutron generator provided a neutron yield of ∼105 neutrons/pulse with the deuterium-deuterium fusion reaction at a deuteron ion energy of 65 keV. This approach to ion sources for neutron generators has the potential to provide a compact, long-lived, high-output neutron generator for homeland security applications.