SBIR Phase I: Nanosecond-Pulse Neutron Generator

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将确定纳秒脉冲中子发生器(NNG)概念用于无损评估(NDE)仪器的可行性。新型NNG将代表紧凑型中子发生器技术的突破，通过实现三维成像和极大地提高灵敏度，将克服使用中子技术进行无损检测的主要限制。第一阶段项目的目标是为NNG概念设计和建造一个原理验证实验，进行实验以确定该概念的可行性，并为NNG和为行李检查设计的基于NNG的无损检测系统(一个重要的无损检测应用实例)进行设计和经济分析。该设备将有广泛的应用，包括用于国土安全的爆炸物和化学制剂的检测，采矿和制造的工艺流程分析，以及人道主义排雷工作。作为具有最先进性能的新型分析仪器的基础，NNG将在中子科学和信息技术应用方面实现新的发现。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will determine the feasibility of the Nanosecond-pulse Neutron Generator (NNG) concept for use in Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) instruments. The novel NNG, which will represent a breakthrough in compact neutron generator technology, will overcome major limitations in the use of neutron techniques for NDE by enabling three-dimensional imaging and greatly improved sensitivity. The goals of the phase I project are to design and construct a proof-of-principle experiment for the NNG concept, conduct experiments to determine the feasibility of the concept, and to develop designs and economic analyses for the NNG and for an NNG-based NDE system designed for luggage inspection (an example of an important NDE application).The device will have a wide range of applications including the detection of explosives and chemical agents for homeland security, the analysis of process streams in mining and manufacturing, and humanitarian de-mining efforts. As the basis for new types of analytical instruments with state of the art performance, the NNG will enable new discoveries in neutron science and it applications.