Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new configuration for neutron generators by turning from conventional cylindrical tubes to flat geometry of computer chips. The most practical and near-term application would be a tiny medical neutron source implanted close to a tumor, which would allow cancer patients to receive a low neutron dose over a long period at home instead of having to be treated at a hospital.
Traditionally, accelerator-based neutron generators with deuterium ion and tritium targets have operated on cylinders, which makes it easy to control the electric field and ion beam shape. However, that geometry also limits size, beam current, and neutron output. The researchers therefore turned to computer chip geometry. Noting that chips have two transistors per bit, they wondered if they could produce one neutron per transistor — a “neutristor” of sorts. The team moved from a millimeter package that looks like a printed circuit board to a micron package to the concept of mounting the package on a computer chip. The chip configuration allows varying numbers of layers in stack. That led to the idea of rotating those layers for radial discharge to ramp up output.
The technology is ready to be licensed for some commercial applications, but other more complex commercial applications could take five to 10 years.
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