Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
5-8-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
5-8-2024 11:00 AM
Advisor
Erik J. Sanchez
Student Level
Doctoral
Abstract
Power generation by nuclear fusion is a continuing ambition that has been the focus of nuclear fusion research for nearly a hundred years. However, small-scale fusion reactors have further propulsion and neutron imaging applications that don’t require greater than breakeven efficiencies that a fusion energy source needs. Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) fusion devices have the potential for miniaturization, making them a strong candidate for such applications. Yet the contributions of different interactions within an IEC fusion device are still not fully understood. Imaging an IEC device and investigating each interaction's Neutron Production Rate (NPR) can enhance design efficiency. Neutron imaging is an ideal analysis technique for this research since neutrons constitute a significant byproduct of the fusion reaction and can penetrate the device walls without appreciable interaction. In this research, we aim to develop a novel 3D neutron imaging scintillator cube that will be utilized to determine neutrons generated from within an IEC device. The imaging system will image fast neutrons generated from the device and reconstruct a 2D/3D image of the source via spatial analysis and AI computational imaging techniques.
Creative Commons License or Rights Statement
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/41952
Included in
Development of a Fast-Neutron Source Localization System
Power generation by nuclear fusion is a continuing ambition that has been the focus of nuclear fusion research for nearly a hundred years. However, small-scale fusion reactors have further propulsion and neutron imaging applications that don’t require greater than breakeven efficiencies that a fusion energy source needs. Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) fusion devices have the potential for miniaturization, making them a strong candidate for such applications. Yet the contributions of different interactions within an IEC fusion device are still not fully understood. Imaging an IEC device and investigating each interaction's Neutron Production Rate (NPR) can enhance design efficiency. Neutron imaging is an ideal analysis technique for this research since neutrons constitute a significant byproduct of the fusion reaction and can penetrate the device walls without appreciable interaction. In this research, we aim to develop a novel 3D neutron imaging scintillator cube that will be utilized to determine neutrons generated from within an IEC device. The imaging system will image fast neutrons generated from the device and reconstruct a 2D/3D image of the source via spatial analysis and AI computational imaging techniques.