Abstract: Provided herein are high energy ion beam generator systems and methods that provide low cost, high performance, robust, consistent, uniform, low gas consumption and high current/high-moderate voltage generation of neutrons and protons. Such systems and methods find use for the commercial-scale generation of neutrons and protons for a wide variety of research, medical, security, and industrial processes.

Abstract: Provided herein are high energy ion beam generator systems and methods that provide low cost, high performance, robust, consistent, uniform, low gas consumption and high current/high-moderate voltage generation of neutrons and protons. Such systems and methods find use for the commercial-scale generation of neutrons and protons for a wide variety of research, medical, security, and industrial processes.

Abstract: A sublimation/distillation apparatus including a crucible with an open end, a heating device thermally coupled to the crucible, an actively cooled collection substrate disposed above the open end of the crucible, and a vacuum chamber housing the crucible, the heating device, and the actively cooled collection substrate.

Abstract: An ion source includes a chamber having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first wall extending from the first end to the second end, and a second wall opposite the first wall. The ion source also includes a source filament at the first end of the chamber and configured to emit electrons and a first amount of heat, a beam aperture at the second wall of the chamber, and one or more heaters positioned within the chamber and between the second end and the beam aperture and operable to provide a second amount of heat. The one or more heaters are positioned and operable such that the second amount of heat balances the first amount of heat to reduce or eliminate a temperature gradient in the chamber.

Abstract: A reactor that is operable to produce an isotope includes a region for containing a controlled nuclear fission reaction, the region segmented into a plurality of independent compartments, each of the compartments for containing a parent material in an aqueous solution that interacts with neutrons to produce the isotope via a fission reaction. Also provided are methods of producing an isotope using the same.

Abstract: A method including sublimating or distilling an ytterbium composition from an initial solid composition comprising ytterbium and lutetium in an inert or reduced pressure environment and at a first average temperature for a first sublimation/distillation period to leave a lutetium composition comprising a higher weight percentage of lutetium than was present in the initial solid composition, collecting the ytterbium composition; retaining the ytterbium composition for a waiting period to form a decayed ytterbium composition, wherein the waiting period is longer than the first sublimation/distillation period; and subsequent to the waiting period, sublimating or distilling a refined ytterbium composition from the decayed ytterbium composition in an inert or reduced pressure environment and at a second average temperature for a second sublimation/distillation period to leave a waste composition.

Abstract: A reactor that is operable to produce an isotope includes a region for containing a controlled nuclear fission reaction, the region segmented into a plurality of independent compartments, each of the compartments for containing a parent material in an aqueous solution that interacts with neutrons to produce the isotope via a fission reaction. Also provided are methods of producing an isotope using the same.

Abstract: A method includes forming a powder mixture from a rare earth oxide powder and a lanthanum powder, heating the powder mixture in a crucible assembly positioned in a reduced pressure environment, wherein heating the powder mixture comprises applying heat using a heating element and heating the powder mixture reduces the rare earth oxide powder into a rare earth metal that collects on a collection region of the crucible assembly. The method also includes monitoring a pressure in the reduced pressure environment using a pressure sensor and reducing the heat applied by the heating element to the powder mixture when the pressure in the reduced pressure environment is above a threshold pressure.

Abstract: A hybrid nuclear reactor that is operable to produce a medical isotope includes an ion source operable to produce an ion beam from a gas, a target chamber including a target that interacts with the ion beam to produce neutrons, and an activation cell positioned proximate the target chamber and including a parent material that interacts with the neutrons to produce the medical isotope via a fission reaction. An attenuator is positioned proximate the activation cell and selected to maintain the fission reaction at a subcritical level, a reflector is positioned proximate the target chamber and selected to reflect neutrons toward the activation cell, and a moderator substantially surrounds the activation cell, the attenuator, and the reflector.

Abstract: Provided herein are articles of manufacture, systems, and methods employing a gas-deflector plate in low to ultra-high vacuum systems that use differential pumping (e.g., gas-target particle accelerators, mass spectrometers, and windowless delivery ports). In certain embodiments, the gas-deflector plate is configured to be positioned between higher and lower pressure regions in a pressurized system, wherein the gas-deflector plate has a channel therethrough shaped and/or angled such that jetting gas moving through the channel enters the lower pressure region at an angle offset from the vertical axis of the gas-deflector plate and/or the channel. In other embodiments, a jet-deflector component is employed such that the jetting gas strikes such jet-deflector component and is re-directed in another direction.

Abstract: Provided herein are neutron-based detection systems and methods that provide, for example, high throughput analysis of elemental analysis of scrap materials. Such systems and methods find use for the commercial-scale evaluation of bulk process materials where hazardous or otherwise undesirable materials or high value materials may be interspersed with the primary process material. In certain embodiments, the system is used to detect and potentially remove unexploded ordinance (UXO) from a conveyor of demilitarized shell casings being recycled by detecting the presence of nitrogen and other elements present in the UXO. In other embodiments, the system detects and removes unwanted or highly valuable materials from a stream of scrap material.

Abstract: A system and method for performing active scanning on a nuclear fuel rod are provided. The system includes an electrically-driven neutron generator including an ion source, an accelerator, and a target; a moderator surrounding the neutron generator and configured to moderate neutrons generated by the neutron generator; a fuel rod channel disposed within the moderator, the fuel rod channel configured to receive a nuclear fuel rod and subject the nuclear fuel rod to a predetermined neutron flux; and a plurality of radiation detectors. When the nuclear fuel rod is subjected to the predetermined neutron flux, neutrons induce a secondary radiation of prompt and delayed gamma emissions, neutron emission, or a combination thereof that are detected by the plurality of radiation detectors to determine an amount of fissile material in the nuclear fuel rod and a spatial distribution of the fissile material along a length of the nuclear fuel rod.

Abstract: A method that includes accelerating ions toward a lattice of carbon fibers and capturing the ions in the lattice of carbon fibers.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for generating a plurality of different monoenergetic neutron energies using a plurality of interchangeable ion beam targets. In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of ion beam targets is configured to generate a monoenergetic energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from the other ion beam targets. In some embodiments, the ion beam targets are composed of LiF, TiD1.5-1.8, TiT1-2, ErD1.5, ErT, or Li.

Abstract: Provided herein are high energy ion beam generator systems and methods that provide low cost, high performance, robust, consistent, uniform, low gas consumption and high current/high-moderate voltage generation of neutrons and protons. Such systems and methods find use for the commercial-scale generation of neutrons and protons for a wide variety of research, medical, security, and industrial processes.

Abstract: A system includes an ion source configured to generate ions having a first polarity, one or more extraction electrodes configured to extract the ions from the ion source as an ion beam having an extraction energy, a mass resolving slit or aperture configured to select a desired isotope from the ion beam such that a desired isotopic ion beam passes through the mass resolving slit or aperture, a target positioned relative to the mass resolving slit or aperture so that the desired isotopic ion beam is incident on the target, and a voltage source coupled to the target and configured to hold the target at a first voltage having the first polarity. The first voltage causes a reduction of the extraction energy as the desired isotopic ion beam approaches the target to minimize sputtering and maximize collection of the ions on the target to reconstitute an ionized material.

Abstract: An aqueous assembly has a negative coefficient of reactivity with a magnitude. The aqueous assembly includes a vessel and an aqueous solution, with a fissile solute, supported in the vessel. A reactivity stabilizer is disposed within the aqueous solution to reduce the magnitude of the negative coefficient of reactivity of the aqueous assembly during operation of the aqueous assembly.