The Superconducting Cyclotron as a Transportable Neutron Source

Abstract

Oxford Instruments, working in close collaboration with Amersham International, are developing a compact lightweight superconducting cyclotron. Although primarily intended for use as a local generator of short lived isotopes for PET, the same machine could also be made into a neutron generator by directing the extracted proton beam onto a beryllium target. With a proton energy of 17 MeV and a beam current of 200 µA, the expected total neutron yield is 1.8 × 10¹³ neutrons/sec. Using a moderator of high density polythene, this total output may be transformed into thermal neutron flux of about 1.8 × 10¹¹ n cm^-2 s^-1. With a weight of just 2000 kg, the source will be fully transportable using quite simple mechanical handling equipment.