SBIR Phase I: Nanosecond-Pulse Neutron Generator

这个小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大大提高灵敏度，将克服中子技术用于NDE的主要限制。第一阶段项目的目标是为NNG概念设计和构建一个原理验证实验，进行实验以确定该概念的可行性，并为NNG和设计用于行李检查的基于NNG的无损检测系统（一个重要的无损检测应用示例）开发设计和经济分析。该装置将具有广泛的应用范围，包括为国土安全探测爆炸物和化学制剂，分析采矿和制造业的工艺流程，以及人道主义排雷工作。作为新型分析仪器的基础，NNG将为中子科学及其应用带来新的发现。

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.