Abstract: A method for producing a neutrons includes triggering a raising or a lowering of a temperature of a pyroelectric crystal of less than about 40° C. to produce a voltage of negative polarity of at least ?100 keV on a surface of a deuterated or tritiated target coupled thereto. A deuterium ion source is pulsed to produce a deuterium ion beam. The accelerating of the deuterium ion beam is achieved by accelerating voltage of the pyroelectric crystal toward the deuterated or tritiated target to produce neutrons. Furthermore, the pyroelectric crystal, the deuterated or tritiated target, and the deuterium ion source are coupled to a common support. The method also includes throwing the common support housing the pyroelectric crystal, the deuterated or tritiated target, and the deuterium ion source near an unknown threat for identification thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing a neutrons includes producing a voltage of negative polarity of at least ?100 keV on a surface of a deuterated or tritiated target in response to a temperature change of a pyroelectric crystal of less than about 40° C., the pyroelectric crystal having the deuterated or tritiated target coupled thereto, pulsing a deuterium ion source to produce a deuterium ion beam, accelerating the deuterium ion beam to the deuterated or tritiated target, and directing the ion beam onto the deuterated or tritiated target to make neutrons using at least one element of the following: a voltage of the pyroelectric crystal and a high gradient insulator (HGI) surrounding the pyroelectric crystal. The accelerating of the deuterium ion beam is achieved by using an ion accelerating mechanism comprising a pyroelectric stack accelerator having a first thermal altering mechanism for changing a temperature of the pyroelectric stack accelerator.

Abstract: A method for producing a neutrons includes producing a voltage of negative polarity of at least ?100 keV on a surface of a deuterated or tritiated target in response to a temperature change of a pyroelectric crystal of less than about 40° C., the pyroelectric crystal having the deuterated or tritiated target coupled thereto, pulsing a deuterium ion source to produce a deuterium ion beam, accelerating the deuterium ion beam to the deuterated or tritiated target, and directing the ion beam onto the deuterated or tritiated target to make neutrons using at least one element of the following: a voltage of the pyroelectric crystal and a high gradient insulator (HGI) surrounding the pyroelectric crystal. The accelerating of the deuterium ion beam is achieved by using an ion accelerating mechanism comprising a pyroelectric stack accelerator having a first thermal altering mechanism for changing a temperature of the pyroelectric stack accelerator.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for producing a directed neutron beam includes producing a voltage of negative polarity of at least ?100 keV on a surface of a deuterated or tritiated target in response to a temperature change of a pyroelectric crystal of less than about 40° C., the pyroelectric crystal having the deuterated or tritiated target coupled thereto, pulsing a deuterium ion source to produce a deuterium ion beam, accelerating the deuterium ion beam to the deuterated or tritiated target to produce a neutron beam, and directing the ion beam onto the deuterated or tritiated target to make neutrons using at least one of a voltage of the pyroelectric crystal, and a high gradient insulator (HGI) surrounding the pyroelectric crystal. The directionality of the neutron beam is controlled by changing the accelerating voltage of the system. Other methods are presented as well.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a pyroelectric crystal, a deuterated or tritiated target, an ion source, and a common support coupled to the pyroelectric crystal, the deuterated or tritiated target, and the ion source. In another embodiment, a method includes producing a voltage of negative polarity on a surface of a deuterated or tritiated target in response to a temperature change of a pyroelectric crystal, pulsing a deuterium ion source to produce a deuterium ion beam, accelerating the deuterium ion beam to the deuterated or tritiated target to produce a neutron beam, and directing the ion beam onto the deuterated or tritiated target to make neutrons using a voltage of the pyroelectric crystal and/or an HGI surrounding the pyroelectric crystal. The directionality of the neutron beam is controlled by changing the accelerating voltage of the system. Other apparatuses and methods are presented as well.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for producing a directed neutron beam includes producing a voltage of negative polarity of at least ?100 keV on a surface of a deuterated or tritiated target in response to a temperature change of a pyroelectric crystal of less than about 40° C., the pyroelectric crystal having the deuterated or tritiated target coupled thereto, pulsing a deuterium ion source to produce a deuterium ion beam, accelerating the deuterium ion beam to the deuterated or tritiated target to produce a neutron beam, and directing the ion beam onto the deuterated or tritiated target to make neutrons using at least one of a voltage of the pyroelectric crystal, and a high gradient insulator (HGI) surrounding the pyroelectric crystal. The directionality of the neutron beam is controlled by changing the accelerating voltage of the system. Other methods are presented as well.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems enhance the operation and lifespan of photoconductive switches. A photoconductive switch is described that includes a photoconductive material with a first face and a second face, as well as a first contact and a second contact that are positioned above a top surface and below a bottom surface of the photoconductive material, respectively. The first and the second contacts enable establishment of an electric field across the photoconductive material, where the electric field includes enhancement regions around the periphery of the first and second contacts. Further, the photoconductive material is dimensioned relative to the first and the second contacts, as well as first radiation extent and divergence, to allow a first incident radiation that enters the photoconductive material through the first face to propagate through the photoconductive material toward the second face and reach one or more regions of electric field enhancement with substantially reduced intensity.

Abstract: A two-phase mixed media insulator having a dielectric fluid filling the interstices between macro-sized dielectric beads packed into a confined volume, so that the packed dielectric beads inhibit electro-hydrodynamically driven current flows of the dielectric liquid and thereby increase the resistivity and breakdown strength of the two-phase insulator over the dielectric liquid alone. In addition, an electrical apparatus incorporates the two-phase mixed media insulator to insulate between electrical components of different electrical potentials. And a method of electrically insulating between electrical components of different electrical potentials fills a confined volume between the electrical components with the two-phase dielectric composite, so that the macro dielectric beads are packed in the confined volume and interstices formed between the macro dielectric beads are filled with the dielectric liquid.

Abstract: Methods and devices enable coupling of a charged particle beam to a radio frequency quadrupole accelerator. Coupling of the charged particle beam is accomplished, at least in-part, by relying on of sensitivity of the input phase space acceptance of the radio frequency quadrupole to the angle of the input charged particle beam. A first electric field across a beam deflector deflects the particle beam at an angle that is beyond the acceptance angle of the radio frequency quadrupole. By momentarily reversing or reducing the established electric field, a narrow portion of the charged particle beam is deflected at an angle within the acceptance angle of the radio frequency quadrupole. In another configuration, beam is directed at an angle within the acceptance angle of the radio frequency quadrupole by the first electric field and is deflected beyond the acceptance angle of the radio frequency quadrupole due to the second electric field.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a pyroelectric crystal, a deuterated or tritiated target, an ion source, and a common support coupled to the pyroelectric crystal, the deuterated or tritiated target, and the ion source. In another embodiment, a method includes producing a voltage of negative polarity on a surface of a deuterated or tritiated target in response to a temperature change of a pyroelectric crystal, pulsing a deuterium ion source to produce a deuterium ion beam, accelerating the deuterium ion beam to the deuterated or tritiated target to produce a neutron beam, and directing the ion beam onto the deuterated or tritiated target to make neutrons using a voltage of the pyroelectric crystal and/or an HGI surrounding the pyroelectric crystal. The directionality of the neutron beam is controlled by changing the accelerating voltage of the system. Other apparatuses and methods are presented as well.

Abstract: Methods and devices enable coupling of a charged particle beam to a radio frequency quadrupole accelerator. Coupling of the charged particle beam is accomplished, at least inpart, by relying on of sensitivity of the input phase space acceptance of the radio frequency quadrupole to the angle of the input charged particle beam. A first electric field across a beam deflector deflects the particle beam at an angle that is beyond the acceptance angle of the radio frequency quadrupole. By momentarily reversing or reducing the established electric field, a narrow portion of the charged particle beam is deflected at an angle within the acceptance angle of the radio frequency quadrupole. In another configuration, beam is directed at an angle within the acceptance angle of the radio frequency quadrupole by the first electric field and is deflected beyond the acceptance angle of the radio frequency quadrupole due to the second electric field.

Abstract: Methods and devices enable coupling of a charged particle beam to a radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ). Coupling of the charged particle beam is accomplished, at least in-part, by relying on sensitivity of the RFQ to energies of the incoming charged particle beam. A portion of a charged particle beam, which has an initial energy outside a range of RFQ's acceptance energy values, is subjected to a field that modifies its energy to fall within the range of RFQ's acceptance energy values. Once the field is removed, the charged particle beam returns to the initial energy that is outside of the RFQ' range of acceptance energy values. In another configuration, a portion of a charged particle beam, which has an initial energy within the range of RFQ's acceptance energy values, is subjected to a field that modifies its energy to fall outside the range of acceptance energy values of the RFQ.

Abstract: A two-phase mixed media insulator having a dielectric fluid filling the interstices between macro-sized dielectric beads packed into a confined volume, so that the packed dielectric beads inhibit electro-hydrodynamically driven current flows of the dielectric liquid and thereby increase the resistivity and breakdown strength of the two-phase insulator over the dielectric liquid alone. In addition, an electrical apparatus incorporates the two-phase mixed media insulator to insulate between electrical components of different electrical potentials. And a method of electrically insulating between electrical components of different electrical potentials fills a confined volume between the electrical components with the two-phase dielectric composite, so that the macro dielectric beads are packed in the confined volume and interstices formed between the macro dielectric beads are filled with the dielectric liquid.