Abstract: An ion source has a vacuum envelope structure having a cylindrical portion with a lengthwise axis and an inside diameter defining an interior volume, joined at one end to a flange concentric with the axis, the cylindrical portion open by an exit aperture through the flange and open at an end opposite the flange, an RF feedthrough closing the open end of the cylindrical portion opposite the flange, creating a cylindrical interior volume open only through the exit aperture, and a magnet system carrier structure surrounding the cylindrical portion of the vacuum envelope and carrying at least one annular permanent magnet concentric with the lengthwise axis, providing a magnetic field penetrating the interior volume. The ion source is characterized in that the magnet system carrier structure is translatable along the lengthwise axis enabling variable positioning of the magnetic field in the interior volume along the lengthwise axis.

Abstract: A cancer treatment apparatus has a neutron source generating neutrons exiting through a surface of a moderator block and an elongated beam-shaping apparatus (BSA) having a length and a circular cross section of a diameter less than the length, the BSA joined at one end to and projecting orthogonally from the surface of the moderator block of the neutron source, the BSA having a conically shaped element at an end away from the moderator block, the conically shaped element declining in diameter in a direction away from the moderator block. Neutrons produced by the neutron source enter the BSA at the surface of the moderator block, travel the length of the BSA, and exit the BSA through an aperture at the end of the BSA away from the moderator block.

Abstract: A neutron generator has a neutron source generating an ion beam bombarding a Titanium target having a first diameter, the target embedded in a pre-moderator, emitting fast neutrons isotropically, a portion of the fast neutrons moderated in passing through the pre-moderator and exiting through a lowermost surface of the pre-moderator, and a plate of moderating material abutting the lowermost surface of the pre-moderator, the plate having an opening therethrough in a shape of a truncated cone with an axis aligning with direction of the ion beam, a depth, a major diameter of at the upper surface of the plate and a minor diameter at the lower surface of the plate, the opening forming a funnel through which neutrons pass. Neutrons enter the funnel and are to exit through the minor diameter of the funnel, providing a neutron beam with a spot size useful for neutron radiography.

Abstract: A treatment system for evaluating boron sources for boron neutron cancer therapy (BNCT) has a substantially square secondary moderator having a central treatment chamber for a subject; and four substantially identical neutron generators positioned around the substantially square secondary moderator with the axis of each acceleration chamber passing through the center of the treatment chamber.

Abstract: A Boron neutron cancer treatment system has a secondary moderator having a central treatment chamber for a subject, and eight substantially identical neutron generators, each comprising a pre-moderator block. The eight neutron generators are positioned around the secondary moderator with the axis of each acceleration chamber passing through the center of the treatment chamber, and with the angled sides of the neutron generators fully adjacent.

Abstract: A Boron neutron cancer treatment system has a central treatment chamber for a subject, with six substantially identical neutron generators each having an acceleration chamber, the generators positioned around a secondary moderator with the axis of each acceleration chamber passing through center of the treatment chamber, and with angled sides of the neutron generators fully adjacent.

Abstract: A Boron neutron cancer treatment system has a moderator chamber filled with liquid or granular moderator material except for a central treatment chamber, the moderator chamber having parallel upper and lower surfaces, and a plurality of modular neutron generators fully immersed in the liquid or granular moderator material of the moderator chamber.

Abstract: A Boron neutron cancer treatment system has a secondary moderator having a central treatment chamber for a subject, and eight substantially identical neutron generators, each comprising a pre-moderator block. The eight neutron generators are positioned around the secondary moderator with the axis of each acceleration chamber passing through the center of the treatment chamber, and with the angled sides of the neutron generators fully adjacent.

Abstract: A Boron neutron cancer treatment system has a secondary moderator having a central treatment chamber, and several generators, each comprising a pre-moderator block, an acceleration chamber, a vacuum pump engaging the acceleration chamber at a right angle, a plasma ion chamber opening into the acceleration chamber, a gas source providing deuterium gas to the plasma ion chamber, a microwave energy source ionizing the gas in the plasma ion chamber, a cylindrical primary isolation well extending into the pre-moderator block, a secondary isolation well surrounding the primary isolation well, and a water-cooled titanium target disk at a lower extremity of the isolation well. The neutron generators are positioned around the secondary moderator with the axis of each acceleration chamber passing through the center of the treatment chamber, and with the angled sides of the neutron generators fully adjacent.

Abstract: A treatment system for evaluating boron sources for boron neutron cancer therapy (BNCT) has a substantially square secondary moderator having a central treatment chamber for a subject; and four substantially identical neutron generators positioned around the substantially square secondary moderator with the axis of each acceleration chamber passing through the center of the treatment chamber.

Abstract: A Boron neutron cancer treatment system has a moderator chamber filled with liquid or granular moderator material except for a central treatment chamber, the moderator chamber having parallel upper and lower surfaces, and a plurality of modular neutron generators fully immersed in the liquid or granular moderator material of the moderator chamber.

Abstract: A Boron neutron cancer treatment system has a central treatment chamber for a subject, with six substantially identical neutron generators each having an acceleration chamber, the generators positioned around a secondary moderator with the axis of each acceleration chamber passing through center of the treatment chamber, and with angled sides of the neutron generators fully adjacent.

Abstract: A neutron generator has a pre-moderator block of moderating material, an acceleration chamber, a vacuum pump evacuating the acceleration chamber to a moderately high vacuum, a plasma ion chamber opening into the acceleration chamber through an ion extraction iris, a gas source providing deuterium gas to the plasma ion chamber, a microwave energy source ionizing the gas in the plasma ion chamber, a primary and a secondary isolation well extending into the pre-moderator block, a water-cooled titanium target disk positioned at a lower extremity of the primary isolation well, the target disk biased to a substantial negative DC voltage, and electrically grounded metal cladding covering surfaces of the pre-moderator block. Ions extracted through the ion extraction iris are accelerated to bombard the titanium target producing energetic neutrons that pass through and are moderated by the pre-moderator block.

Abstract: A Boron neutron cancer treatment system has a secondary moderator having a central treatment chamber, and several generators, each comprising a pre-moderator block, an acceleration chamber, a vacuum pump engaging the acceleration chamber at a right angle, a plasma ion chamber opening into the acceleration chamber, a gas source providing deuterium gas to the plasma ion chamber, a microwave energy source ionizing the gas in the plasma ion chamber, a cylindrical primary isolation well extending into the pre-moderator block, a secondary isolation well surrounding the primary isolation well, and a water-cooled titanium target disk at a lower extremity of the isolation well. The neutron generators are positioned around the secondary moderator with the axis of each acceleration chamber passing through the center of the treatment chamber, and with the angled sides of the neutron generators fully adjacent.

Abstract: A method for neutron-capture therapy has steps for emitting fast neutrons from a plurality of target structures by ion bombardment from ion sources DC biased to the target structures, the target structures positioned around a moderator structure composed primarily of moderator material, the moderator structure having a length, an outer periphery, an outer surface, an inside volume, and an inner surface, the inside volume defining a treatment zone, reflecting fast neutrons that are emitted from the target structures in a direction away from the moderator structure, into the moderator structure, by a reflector structure surrounding the moderator structure, the target structures, and the ion sources, moderating fast neutrons passing inward through the moderator structure toward the treatment zone to epithermal energy level, and creating a density of epithermal neutrons in the treatment zone, from neutrons entering the treatment zone across the inner surface of the moderator structure.

Abstract: A neutron generator has a pre-moderator block of moderating material, an acceleration chamber, a vacuum pump evacuating the acceleration chamber to a moderately high vacuum, a plasma ion chamber opening into the acceleration chamber through an ion extraction iris, a gas source providing deuterium gas to the plasma ion chamber, a microwave energy source ionizing the gas in the plasma ion chamber, a primary and a secondary isolation well extending into the pre-moderator block, a water-cooled titanium target disk positioned at a lower extremity of the primary isolation well, the target disk biased to a substantial negative DC voltage, and electrically grounded metal cladding covering surfaces of the pre-moderator block. Ions extracted through the ion extraction iris are accelerated to bombard the titanium target producing energetic neutrons that pass through and are moderated by the pre-moderator block.

Abstract: A therapy apparatus for producing thermal neutrons at a tumor site in a patient has a plurality of fast neutron sources surrounding a moderator, a fast neutron reflecting media around the fast neutron sources, a gamma-ray and neutron shielding media surrounding the fast neutron reflecting media, and a patient chamber positioned inside the moderator. The fast neutron sources are positioned around the moderator to maximize and direct the neutron flux to said tumor site.

Abstract: A therapy apparatus for producing thermal neutrons at a tumor site in a patient has a plurality of fast neutron sources surrounding a moderator, a fast neutron reflecting media around the fast neutron sources, a gamma-ray and neutron shielding media surrounding the fast neutron reflecting media, and a patient chamber positioned inside the moderator. The fast neutron sources are positioned around the moderator to maximize and direct the neutron flux to said tumor site.

Abstract: An x-ray or neutron apparatus for the transmission of x-ray or neutron images is described, which includes x-ray- or neutron-three-dimensional (3-D) arrays or mosaics, including a plurality of x-ray or neutron lenses positioned so that they form a two-dimensional (2-D) mosaic of compound refractive lenses to provide a plurality of separate x-ray or neutron paths between an object and an image at an x-ray- or neutron-detector. The apparatus is so constructed that it permits separate parts of an object to be imaged such that a total composite image is formed from these various parts. An imaging apparatus of the detection of carcinoma in breast tissue is formed using such an apparatus. Methods of microscopy and imaging are obtained using this apparatus.

Abstract: A compound refractive lens for neutrons is provided having a plurality of individual unit Fresnel lenses comprising a total of N in number. The unit lenses are aligned substantially along an axis, the i-th lens having a displacement ti orthogonal to the axis, with the axis located such that ∑ i = 1 N ⁢   ⁢ t i = 0. Each of the unit lenses comprises a lens material having a refractive index decrement &dgr;<1 at a wavelength &lgr;<200 Angstroms.