

If the energy of the driver proton beam is selected just above the threshold value, excessive radiation and radioactive wastes can be minimized.
#ADOBE DIMENSION FOIL LOGO GENERATOR#
The most popular reactions used in a proton-driven compact neutron generator are 7Li(p, n) 7Be and 9Be(p, n) 9B because they are endothermic reactions 20. Some projects based on proton accelerator technology have been proposed around the world 17– 19.

Accelerator-driven pulsed neutrons can avoid this problem. Neutrons are difficult to control once they are emitted, and radiation measurements are difficult to analyze because of the noise caused by background neutrons. For instance, a linear accelerator-driven generator can easily pulse the neutron flux by manipulating the driver beam. An accelerator-driven neutron source adds new functions and features in addition to serving as a replacement for a nuclear reactor 14. However, to utilize the characteristics of the neutron beam more effectively, it is essential to promote the use of compact accelerator-driven sources that can be owned by industrial and university-scale research facilities 16. Several large accelerator-driven spallation neutron source facilities have already been in operation as an alternative to nuclear reactors 14, 15. With this trend, the demand for accelerator-driven neutron sources is increasing 2. Furthermore, the recent Fukushima nuclear accident has made the construction of nuclear reactors almost socially unacceptable. However, with the global consensus on nuclear nonproliferation, the construction of small reactors for research purposes is becoming more difficult. The applications of neutron beams have been actively used in both scientific research and industry, and many of these technologies have historically been developed using nuclear reactors. Non-destructive neutron testing is an effective tool for detecting hidden failures in buildings, tunnels, and bridges. Similar techniques are also being used in the civil engineering field. Neutrons are also being used in wells to search for oil and gas because they can be easily captured in proton-rich materials 13. More recently, neutron diffraction has begun to be applied to detect residual stresses in mechanical components such as rails and aircraft parts 9– 12. This technique is considered a powerful tool in basic science and has been embraced by metal and other material manufacturers. In particular, neutron scattering techniques are often used to study the composition, structure, and internal stress of condensed matter and can give detailed information on minor compounds in metal alloys that are difficult to detect by X-ray spectroscopy 8. Neutrons, unlike X-rays or charged particles, have high penetration depth and unique interactions with condensed matter, making them extremely versatile probes for investigating the properties of materials 1– 7.
