FABRICATION OF NEUTRON TUBE Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC G21G4/02 

FIELD: electrical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: in compliance with this method, 1-5 mcm deep coat of Pd-Ba alloy (Pd - 98-99 wt % and Ba - 1-2 wt %) is applied on ion source electrodes (6). Coated parts are degassed at 500-800°C for (1.5±0.5) hours, ion source operating voltage (2.5±0.5) kV and pulling negative voltage -20 to -30 kV. Discharge current in ion source is set to comply with neutron tube operating current with ion beam (5) displacement between focusing electrode (1) and accelerating electrode (2) towards target (3). At discharge current exceeding 250 mcA, pressure in neutron tube is decreased. Discharge current is decreased to initial value to fix discharge current increase termination in ion source and to interrupt activation process, gas generator is reactivated. Finally, tube is subjected to HV training.

EFFECT: higher neutron flux, longer tube life.

2 dwg