A multi E x B filter system for isotope enrichment application.

The design of a special type E x B (or "Wien") filter for efficient isotope separation is described. Computation results demonstrated that an optimized E x B filter can produce highly enriched isotopes such as B, Mo, and Mo which are useful for the manufacturing of radioactive isotopes for medical diagnostic imaging studies and therapeutic applications. Using the ion beams generated by a large area RF-driven plasma source, it is shown that a multi E x B filter system can greatly enhance the yield of a range of commercially desirable isotopes.

Feasibility study on medical isotope production using a compact neutron generator.

Compact neutron generators can provide high flux of neutrons with energies ranging from thermal (0.025 eV) to 14 MeV. Recent measurements demonstrated high neutron yields from the D-Li fusion reaction at an interaction energy of 500 keV.

Beam-induced back-streaming electron suppression analysis for an accelerator type neutron generator designed for Ar/Ar geochronology.

A facility based on a next-generation, high-flux D-D neutron generator has been commissioned and it is now operational at the University of California, Berkeley. The current generator designed for Ar/Ar dating of geological materials produces nearly monoenergetic 2.45MeV neutrons at outputs of 10n/s.

Ion source for neutral beam injection meant for plasma and magnetic field diagnostics.

At the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory a diagnostic neutral beam injection system for measuring plasma parameters, flow velocity, and local magnetic field is being developed. The system is designed to have a 90% proton fraction and small divergence with beam current at 5-6 A and a pulse length of approximately 1 s occurring once every 1-2 min. The ion source needs to generate uniform plasma over a large (8 x 5 cm(2)) extraction area.

Development of C(60) plasma ion source for time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry applications.

Initial data from a multicusp ion source developed for buckminsterfullerene (C(60)) cluster ion production are reported in this article. A C(60)(+) beam current of 425 nA and a C(60)(-) beam current of 200 nA are obtainable in continuous mode. Compared to prior work using electron impact ionization, the multicusp ion source provides at least two orders of magnitude increase in the extractable C(60)(+) beam current.

Application of deuteron-deuteron (D-D) fusion neutrons to 40Ar/39Ar geochronology.

Neutron irradiation of samples for 40Ar/39Ar dating in a 235U fission reactor requires error-producing corrections for the argon isotopes created from Ca, K, and, to a lesser extent, Cl. The fission spectrum includes neutrons with energies above 2-3 MeV, which are not optimal for the 39K(n,p)39Ar reaction. These higher-energy neutrons are responsible for the largest recoil displacements, which may introduce age artifacts in the case of fine-grained samples.