Abstract: A beam accelerator system operable to produce a medical isotope, including an ion accelerator that generates a high-energy ion beam; a low-pressure chamber; an anode adjacent and fluidly connected to the low-pressure chamber; a plasma window adjacent and fluidly connected to the anode; and a cathode housing adjacent and fluidly connected to the plasma window. The plasma window has a plurality of plates, each plate having an aperture that is aligned with an aperture in one or more adjacent plate to form a plasma channel. One or more plate in the plurality of plates includes a unitary plate having an aperture therein, and one or more cooling channels entering the unitary plate at a first side of the unitary plate and exiting the unitary plate at a second side of the unitary plate. The one or more cooling channels run through a thickness of the unitary plate.

Abstract: A neutron imaging system that includes a central neutron source configured to produce source neutrons, wherein the central neutron source comprises a beam target, a moderator chamber surrounding at least a portion of the beam target, the moderator chamber housing a moderator, and a re-entrant cone extending into the moderator chamber. The re-entrant cone includes an entrance surface having a concave curvature facing the beam target. The entrance surface encloses a cone chamber, isolating the cone chamber from the moderator.

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: A beam accelerator system operable to produce a medical isotope, including an ion accelerator that generates an ion beam; a low-pressure chamber; an anode adjacent and fluidly connected to the low-pressure chamber; a plasma window adjacent and fluidly connected to the anode; and a cathode housing adjacent and fluidly connected to the plasma window. The plasma window has a plurality of plates, each plate having an aperture that is aligned with an aperture in one or more adjacent plates to form a plasma channel. One or more plates in the plurality of plates includes a unitary plate having an aperture therein, and one or more cooling channels entering the unitary plate at a first side of the unitary plate and exiting the unitary plate at a second side of the unitary plate. The one or more cooling channels run through a thickness of the unitary plate.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, devices, articles of manufacture, and methods for generating neutrons employing a high energy ion beam target (HEIB target) and a target backing configured to be in contact with the bottom surface of the HEIB target (e.g., to generate an ion beam target assembly). In certain embodiments, the HEIB target has a thickness that is less than the penetration depth of protons or deuterons in the high energy ion beam that strikes the target. In certain embodiments, the target backing comprises a high hydrogen diffusion metal (e.g., palladium), has open spaces dispersed throughout for reduced proton diffusion distances, and has a shape and thickness such that all, or virtually all, of the protons or deuterons that pass through the HEIB target are stopped. Also provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for changing targets in an ion beam accelerator system.

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 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 systems, devices, articles of manufacture, and methods for generating neutrons employing a high energy ion beam target (HEIB target) and a target backing configured to be in contact with the bottom surface of the HEIR target (e.g., to generate an ion beam target assembly). In certain embodiments, the HEIB target has a thickness that is less than the penetration depth of protons or deuterons in the high energy ion beam that strikes the target. In certain embodiments, the target backing comprises a high hydrogen diffusion metal (e.g., palladium), has open spaces dispersed throughout for reduced proton diffusion distances, and has a shape and thickness such that all, or virtually all, of the protons or deuterons that pass through the HEIR target are stopped. Also provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for changing targets in an ion beam accelerator system.

Abstract: A beam accelerator system comprises an ion accelerator that generates a high-energy ion beam, a low-pressure chamber, an anode adjacent and fluidly connected to the low-pressure chamber, a plasma window adjacent and fluidly connected to the anode, and a cathode housing block adjacent and fluidly connected to the plasma window. The plasma window comprises a plurality of cooling plates, each cooling plate comprising an aperture that is aligned with an aperture in one or more adjacent cooling plate to form a plasma channel. The cathode housing block comprises a cathode target region and a cooling portion. The cooling portion comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a cooling channel fluidly coupling the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and an opening adjacent to the plasma window and aligned with a longitudinal axis of the plasma channel.

Abstract: A nitric oxide generator generates nitric oxide from a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen such as air treated by a pulsating electrical discharge. The desired concentration of nitric oxide is obtained by controlling at least one of a frequency of the pulsating electrical discharge and duration of each electrical discharge pulse.

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: 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: A beam accelerator system comprises an ion accelerator that generates an ion beam, a low-pressure chamber, an anode, a plasma window, and a cathode housing. The plasma window comprises a plurality of cooling plates. Each cooling plate comprises a central wall surrounding the aperture, a cooling chamber surrounding the central wall, one or more impingement channels, and one or more return channels. Each of the impingement channels and return channels enter the cooling plate from an outer edge of the cooling plate and extend toward the aperture to the cooling chamber. Each of the one or more impingement channels are configured to provide an entrance pathway for cooling fluid to enter the cooling chamber and each of the one or more return channels are configured to provide an exit pathway for heated fluid to exit the cooling chamber.

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 nitric oxide generator generates nitric oxide from a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen such as air treated by a pulsating electrical discharge. The desired concentration of nitric oxide is obtained by controlling at least one of a frequency of the pulsating electrical discharge and duration of each electrical discharge pulse.

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 systems, devices, articles of manufacture, and methods for generating neutrons employing a high energy ion beam target (HEIB target) and a target backing configured to be in contact with the bottom surface of the HEIR target (e.g., to generate an ion beam target assembly). In certain embodiments, the HEIB target has a thickness that is less than the penetration depth of protons or deuterons in the high energy ion beam that strikes the target. In certain embodiments, the target backing comprises a high hydrogen diffusion metal (e.g., palladium), has open spaces dispersed throughout for reduced proton diffusion distances, and has a shape and thickness such that all, or virtually all, of the protons or deuterons that pass through the HEIR target are stopped. Also provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for changing targets in an ion beam accelerator system.

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 nitric oxide generator generates nitric oxide from a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen such as air treated by a pulsating electrical discharge. The desired concentration of nitric oxide is obtained by controlling at least one of a frequency of the pulsating electrical discharge and duration of each electrical discharge pulse.