Using an Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Nuclear Fusion Device as a Pulsed Neutron Source: Optimizing the Pulse Shape

Pulsed neutron sources may prove to be valuable for detecting illicit nuclear materials in items being smuggled across borders or checkpoints. Work already accomplished by Sorebo et al.\ [1] at the U. of Wisconsin demonstrated the basic detection concept by successfully detecting \underline{delayed} $^{235}$U fission neutrons using neutron pulses generated by an IEC fusion device. \underline{Numerical} studies imply the detection of the much more copious \underline{prompt} induced-fission neutrons would be preferable; the \underline{experimental} detection of prompt neutrons represents a challenge: the prompt, fission-produced neutron and interrogating neutron pulses may overlap. After IEC device operation and past work by Sorebo et al.\ are reviewed, efforts to produce a properly shaped interrogating neutron pulse are described. Efforts drawing, in part, on techniques used in hard-switched power inverters are highlighted.\\[4pt] [1] J.H. Sorebo, G.L. Kulcinski, R.F. Radel, and J.F. Santarius, ``Special Nuclear Materials Detection Using IEC Fusion Pulsed Neutron Source,'' \it{Fusion Science and Technology} \bf{56}, 540 (2009).