Method and collimator for receiving ion beam

Abstract

To provide a method and a collimator that can calculate an exact beam current on a target.SOLUTION: The collimator comprises a plurality of fingers collectively forming an annulus having a central opening. Each of the fingers comprises: a proton sink positioned at a perimeter of the annulus, radially adjacent to the central opening; a heat sink positioned at an outer perimeter of the annulus; and an isolated cooling circuit. Each of the isolated cooling circuits is isolated from one another and performs calorimetry.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 869,337, filed Jul. 1, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Provided herein are multiple systems and multiple methods for generating multiple monoenergetic neutron energies using multiple interchangeable ion beam targets. In certain embodiments, each of the multiple ion beam targets is configured to generate an energy value of a single energy that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from other ion beam targets. In some embodiments, the multiple ion beam targets are composed of LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 , TiT 1-2 , ErD 1.5 , ErT or Li.

Background Art

[0003] Neutron radiography and tomography are proven techniques for non-destructive testing and quality control of manufactured parts in aerospace, energy, automotive, defense, and other fields. Similar to X-rays, when neutrons pass through an object, the neutrons provide information about the internal structure of the object. Neutrons can easily pass through many high-density materials and provide detailed information about internal materials. This includes many low-density materials. This property is extremely important for many parts that require non-destructive evaluation, including jet engine turbine blades, satellite parts, military supplies, aircraft and spacecraft parts, and composite materials.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] Provided herein are a plurality of systems and a plurality of methods for generating a plurality of different single - energy neutron energies using a plurality of exchangeable ion - beam targets. In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of ion - beam targets is configured to generate an energy value of a single energy that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different (or 10 - 90 keV different) from other ion - beam targets. In some embodiments, the plurality of ion - beam targets are composed of LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 、TiT 1-2 、ErD 1.5 、ErT or Li.

[0005] In some embodiments, provided herein are a plurality of systems for generating a plurality of single - energy neutron energies, comprising: a) an ion source configured to produce an ion beam; b) an accelerator operably coupled to the ion source, configured to receive the ion beam and accelerate the ion beam to produce an accelerated ion beam; c) a target station comprising a target - holding mechanism; and d) a plurality of exchangeable ion - beam targets, each of the plurality of exchangeable ion - beam targets being i) configured to be held by the target - holding mechanism and ii) configured to generate a plurality of neutrons having a unique single - energy neutron energy value among the plurality of exchangeable ion - beam targets when the accelerated ion beam impinges thereon. When the accelerated ion beam impinges, the plurality of exchangeable ion - beam targets as a whole provide a plurality of neutrons having a single - energy neutron energy value in a range extending at least 300 kiloelectron volts (keV) (or at least 150 - 250 keV).

[0006] In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of exchangeable ion - beam targets is LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 、TiT 1-2 、ErD 1.5containing ErT and / or Li, or LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 , TiT 1-2 , ErD 1.5 consisting of ErT and / or Li, or LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 , TiT 1-2 , ErD 1.5 substantially consisting of ErT and / or Li. In other embodiments, each of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets has a thickness that is unique among the plurality of ion beam targets. In a further embodiment, the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets as a whole provides a plurality of neutrons having a single energy neutron energy value in the range of at least 1 megaelectronvolt (MeV) (e.g., at least 1...1.5...2.0...4.5...7.0...or 9.0 MeV). In certain embodiments, the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets as a whole provides a plurality of neutrons having a single energy neutron energy value in the range of at least 10 megaelectronvolts (e.g., at least 10...12...15...or 20 megaelectronvolts).

[0007] In certain embodiments, the neutron energies of the single energy of each of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets differ from each other by at least 100 keV (e.g., at least 100...200...400...800... or 2000 keV). In further embodiments, the neutron energies of the single energy of each of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets differ from each other by at least 500 keV. In some embodiments, the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets includes at least 3 ion beam targets (e.g., at least 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9). In other embodiments, the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets includes at least 6 ion beam targets (e.g., at least 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15). In certain embodiments, the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets includes: i) a first ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 300 keV; ii) a second ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 1 MeV; iii) a third ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 2.5 MeV; iv) a fourth ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 4 MeV; v) a fifth ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 6 MeV; and vi) a sixth ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 14 MeV. In some embodiments, neutron energy values of a single energy between the aforementioned values are employed (e.g., 700 keV, 2.3 MeV, 3.1 MeV, 5.2 MeV, and 12.3 MeV).

[0008] In some embodiments, the plurality of systems further comprises a control system, and the control system comprises software configured to change the incident ion energy of the accelerated ion beam based on which of the plurality of interchangeable ion beam targets is held by the target holding mechanism. In other embodiments, the plurality of systems further comprises a test facility configured to scan an item with the plurality of neutrons. In certain embodiments, the item is selected from the group consisting of components of a space system, space equipment, aircraft parts, infrastructure, and transportation systems. In certain embodiments, the plurality of systems further comprises a collimator. In other embodiments, the target station further comprises a water cooling system.

[0009] In some embodiments, provided herein are a plurality of methods comprising: a) inserting a first target from a set of at least two ion beam targets into an ion beam accelerator that generates an accelerated ion beam; b) operating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that the accelerated ion beam impinges on the first target, thereby generating a plurality of neutrons having a first single-energy neutron energy value; c) removing the first target from the ion beam accelerator; d) inserting a second target from the set of at least two targets into the ion beam accelerator; and e) operating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time (and at a particular energy) such that the ion beam impinges on the second target, thereby generating a plurality of neutrons having a second single-energy neutron energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from the first single-energy neutron energy value. In other embodiments, the second single-energy neutron energy value is at least 500 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from the first single-energy neutron energy value (e.g., at least 500...1000...2000...10,000 keV).

[0010] In some embodiments, the at least two ion beam targets include at least three ion beam targets, and the method further includes: f) removing the second target from the ion beam accelerator; g) inserting a third target from the set of at least three targets into the ion beam accelerator; and h) operating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that the ion beam impinges on the third target, thereby generating a plurality of neutrons having a third single - energy neutron energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from both of the first and second single - energy neutron energy values. In a further embodiment, the third single - energy neutron energy value is at least 500 kiloelectron volts different from the first and second single - energy neutron energy values.

[0011] In some embodiments, the at least three ion beam targets include at least four ion beam targets, and the method further includes: i) removing the third target from the ion beam accelerator; j) inserting a fourth target from the set of at least four targets into the ion beam accelerator; and k) operating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that the ion beam impinges on the fourth target, thereby generating a plurality of neutrons having a fourth single - energy neutron energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from all of the first, second, and third single - energy neutron energy values. In some embodiments, the fourth single - energy neutron energy value is at least 500 kiloelectron volts different from the first, second, and third single - energy neutron energy values. In some embodiments, the plurality of steps are repeated for a fifth, sixth, seventh, or more ion beam targets.

[0012] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of ion beam targets is LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 、TiT1-2 and ErD 1.5 contains ErT or Li, or LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 and TiT 1-2 and ErD 1.5 consists of ErT or Li, or LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 and TiT 1-2 and ErD 1.5 substantially consists of ErT or Li. In other embodiments, each of the at least four ion beam targets has a unique thickness among the first, second, third, and fourth ion beam targets. In a further embodiment, the at least four ion beam targets together provide a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a single energy ranging from at least 5 or 10 megaelectron volts (MeV) (e.g., at least 5...7...10...15...20... or 30 MeV). In certain embodiments, the method further comprises scanning an item with the plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a first single energy between step b) and step c) (or between step g) and step h), or between step j) and step k)). In some embodiments, the item is selected from the group consisting of components of a space system, space equipment, aircraft parts, infrastructure, and transportation systems. In certain embodiments, each of the at least two, or at least three, or at least four ion beam targets generates a different single energy neutron energy value selected from the group consisting of about 300 keV, about 1 MeV, about 2.5 MeV, about 4 MeV, about 6 MeV, and about 14 MeV.

[0013] In some embodiments, provided herein is an ion beam accelerator system comprising: a) a computer processor; b) a non-transitory computer memory including one or more computer programs and a database, the one or more computer programs including accelerator system operation software; and c) one or more of the following subsystems operably communicating with the non-transitory computer memory: i) a target station comprising a target holding mechanism configured to hold one of a plurality of ion beam targets, and ii) a beam generation subsystem configured to generate an ion beam having an intensity that is adjusted by the accelerator system operation software based on which of the plurality of ion beam targets is present within the ion beam accelerator system, the ion beam accelerator system being automatically adjusted by the accelerator system operation software to capture a particular ion beam target present within the ion beam accelerator system selected from the plurality of ion beam targets. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] This patent or patent application documents contain at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Provided herein are a plurality of systems and a plurality of methods for generating a plurality of different single-energy 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 an energy value of a single energy that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from other ion beam targets. In some embodiments, the plurality of ion beam targets are LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8, TiT 1-2 , ErD 1.5 , ErT or Li.

[0016] In certain embodiments, provided herein is a single neutron system for use in radiation effects testing and neutron scanning, with various neutron energies. In certain embodiments, systems and components including, but not limited to, space systems and space equipment (e.g., satellites and satellite components), materials and components that may be subject to radiation damage, functional / electronic systems used in civilian nuclear power plants (e.g., equipment nuclearization), infrastructure (e.g., hardening against lightning), systems that may be sensitive to natural radiation environments (e.g., atmospheric neutrons), particularly with respect to reliability (e.g., transportation means), and systems that need to address threats from directed energy weapons (e.g., High Power Microwave) are scanned for radiation and / or internal defects. In some embodiments, the systems and embodiments herein enable the evaluation of the behavior of components under multiple different neutron irradiation values (e.g., 14 MeV, 6 MeV, 4 MeV, 2.5 MeV, 1 MeV, and 300 keV neutron irradiations). Table 1 provides exemplary neutron energies with corresponding exemplary neutron fluxes.

[0017]

Table 1

[0018] In certain embodiments, a plurality of different ion beam targets that are interchangeable within a single accelerator system are used. In some embodiments, LiF targets of various thicknesses are used (e.g., for neutrons of 300 keV, 400 keV, 500 keV, 1 MeV, 2.5 MeV, and 15 MeV in Table 1). In certain embodiments, TiD1.5 targets of various thicknesses are used (e.g., for neutrons of 4 MeV and 6 MeV in Table 1). Any suitable type of accelerator system, such as an adjustable commercial tandem accelerator system provided by National Electrostatics Corporation (NEC), may be used herein. The performance specifications of an exemplary accelerator system are shown in Table 2 below.

[0019]

Table 2

[0020] In certain embodiments, the system herein uses a single beamline, while in other embodiments, multiple beamlines are used with multiple target stations. In certain embodiments, a pure lithium ion beam target is used.

[0021] Any suitable type of ion source can be used with the systems of this specification. In certain embodiments, a proton or deuteron ion source (e.g., having a toroidal discharge chamber) is used. In certain embodiments, the ion source power supply and two molecular pumps (e.g., 650 l / s turbo) having isolation valves and backing pumps are biased up to, for example, -60 kV. In certain embodiments, two 4.2 kVA rated isolation transformers are used and AC power is delivered to the ion source pumps and power supplies. In some embodiments, an insulating fluid is pumped in a closed loop from ground potential to the ion source for cooling. In certain embodiments, one or more of the following system components are used: an extractor, an acceleration gap, and an einzel lens assembly; a pre-acceleration tube; a bias isolation power supply; a Y-steerer; a faraday cup; and a process control device and power supply.

[0022] In certain embodiments, in connection with a low energy beam line within the system, magnetic field deflection is used to mass analyze the ion beam from the ion source. In some embodiments, an electrostatic X-Y steerer and an einzel lens are provided to direct the mass analyzed beam towards a stripper tube of the accelerator. In certain embodiments, the system uses one or more of the following: an Inflection Magnet; a lens, a Beam Steerer; a faraday cup; a beam profile monitor; and a control device.

[0023] Any suitable type of accelerator may be used in the methods and systems described herein. In certain embodiments, the accelerator is a tandem electrostatic accelerator (e.g., capable of delivering energies from 0.4 to 6.0 MeV for singly charged ions). In some embodiments, four high-performance charging chain systems are installed within the column, providing a conservative 600 μA current to the high voltage terminal. The charging chains efficiently deliver the current to the gas with far less energy loss than in the case of belts. As a result, a high charge current can be provided with a relatively moderate power input without introducing difficult cooling problems. In certain embodiments, the acceleration tube is of a robust metal and ceramic construction and can be baked to a moderate temperature. They can be operated at pressures approximately 100 times lower than the pressures normally achieved in tubes sealed with organic cement. This is advantageous for high current applications where backstreaming electrons due to ionization of gas molecules can give rise to a total current drain many times greater than the ion beam current. The tube does not require a gradient field or high tube pressure to enable successful operation. In certain embodiments, the vacuum system with the accelerator consists entirely of metal and ceramic construction (e.g., excluding the ion source, turbomolecular pump, and gate valve) and is capable of ultra-high vacuum operation. In some embodiments, the design goal of this vacuum system is between 1×10 -8 Torr and 5×10 -8 Torr when no ion beam is present. In certain embodiments, the acceleration system includes at least one of the following components: a tank, a column, a terminal, a shorting rod system, a charging system, a voltage stabilization system, an acceleration tube and a vacuum system, a potential distribution, and an insulating gas (e.g., Sf6).

[0024] In certain embodiments, the downstream acceleration beamline includes components necessary to steer and focus the proton / deproton beam into various targets for neutron generation. In some embodiments, the system supplies an exchangeable target disk on a target assembly into a single, permanent target station, as further described below.

[0025] In certain embodiments, the systems and methods herein use a target station in which various targets can be installed. An exemplary target station is shown in FIG. 3 as part of an accelerator system. In certain embodiments, when the target is not being irradiated, the beam will hit a beam dump controlled by an air actuated linear feedthrough, as shown in FIG. 4A (e.g., 100% of the beam is collected into the beam dump and the current is measured). In certain embodiments, the beam dump can be retracted to allow the beam to continue to proceed (e.g., to a four finger collimator, as shown in FIG. 4B). In some embodiments, when the beam current hits the collimator (e.g., a four finger collimator), it is measured and subtracted from the beam dump current measurement to calculate the exact beam current on the target. As shown in FIG. 4A, the beam passes through a four finger collimator and hits the neutron generating target.

[0026] In certain embodiments, at least one viewport is included as part of the target station, enabling the target to be visualized (e.g., as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5). In some embodiments, target health monitoring is performed indirectly by measuring at least one of the following: use of an energy-resolving planar silicon charged particle detector installed within the target holding flange, where the outputs from this detector and an external long detector are used in concert to monitor neutron output; target chamber pressure; fast gate valve position; target coolant flow in; target coolant flow out; target coolant temperature in; target coolant temperature out; an nominal neutron flux.

[0027] In some embodiments, the replaceable ion beam target herein is disposed within a target holding flange, as shown in FIG. 6. Generally, the very high heat load on the target makes it difficult to achieve sufficient and uniform cooling by mounting the target within a cooled target holder. Thus, in some embodiments, direct water cooling of a tantalum substrate (support: substrate), generally including a thin target material, is employed. Two exemplary designs of the ion beam target are as follows. First, in certain embodiments, a single integrated target assembly composed of a tantalum disk having internal cooling lines is used to hold the target. The target is fixedly held in place by a water-cooled line, which is a vacuum coupling radiation (VCR) type fitting. The cooling water system has features in certain embodiments that ensure that water is completely removed from the water supply line before changing the target assembly. Second, in some embodiments, the target is composed of a thin (~3 mm) tantalum disk, a target holder that directly exposes the back side of the target to cooling water, and a sealed ion beam target. In certain embodiments, this target relies on an all-metal "O-ring" seal. In this case, the target holder present within the target holder flange is not normally replaced with the target change. However, periodic maintenance / replacement is generally employed. The distance between the LiF or TiD1.5 (or other materials such as pure lithium) target surface and the open space outside the vacuum chamber available for component irradiation is about 15 mm in certain embodiments. Further, the outer surface of the target station where the component is irradiated is flat and free or protruding in some embodiments, thereby allowing a large component to be placed directly towards the irradiation surface of the target station.

[0028] In certain embodiments, in the target station design, to produce the desired reaction, one beam line that collides with a single target is employed. The target can be exchanged with other targets for various reactions. In some embodiments, in the procedure for change, the following steps are performed: 1) close the standard gate valve between the target and the fast valve that isolates the pumping station from the target area; 2) vent the target area; 3) remove (detach) the back target flange, the four-finger collimator remains in place unless it is inspected; 4) remove the target by loosening the two VCR-type nuts that attach the water-cooled line, or by removing the target disk; 5) install the new target into the back flange by tightening the two VCR-type nuts; 6) reinstall the back target flange onto the four-finger collimator flange; 7) open the valve to the roughing pump, rough the target chamber, and close the valve to the roughing pump; and 8) open the gate valve to the pumping stage (the interlock can be actuated only when sufficient pressure is achieved and the roughing pump valve is closed). In certain embodiments, the zero length flange that holds the four-finger collimator is attached by its own bolt pattern and remains firmly attached to the target chamber during normal target changes (e.g., it will be removed only when the four-finger collimator requires inspection). In certain embodiments, the outer flange is a modified aluminum conflat with a stainless steel knife edge. Generally, most of the time for target change will be removing and reinstalling the conflat flange which is the backing plate. In certain embodiments, the back flange is provided with a "quick door" having a single clamping mechanism and a polymer O-ring (e.g., it will be changed periodically due to neutron damage). In certain embodiments, when a conflat seal is employed, the attachment of a vertical conflat gasket is employed.

[0029] An extensive modeling study on neutron energy and flux parameters, shown in Table 1 above and again below (as Table 3), was conducted during the development of the embodiments herein.

[0030]

Table 3

[0031] The results of this modeling are shown in FIGS. 9-26. Note that in addition to LiF and TiD1.5 modeled in FIGS. 9-26, a pure lithium target may also be used. In certain embodiments, titanium (TiD1.5) having 1.5 deuterium atoms at the interstitial sites per titanium atom is used to maximize the flux of the DD reaction. In many cases, there is an inherent trade-off between a narrower energy band and a higher neutron flux, and vice versa. For many reactions, the modeling exercise shows options for various target thicknesses to demonstrate that trade-off. Depending on the prioritization of the energy spectrum versus the total flux, other target thicknesses are also possible. In this exemplary modeling, all reactions have a beam current of 175 uA. Both LiF and TiD1.5 are thin film depositions (solids) onto tantalum backing.

[0032] In certain embodiments, an integrated control system is used with the neutron generation system described herein. It includes an independent safety and / or control system. In certain embodiments, software components are included in the control system, as a result of which it is possible to make changes to adapt to various targets that are swapped in (installed) and swapped out (removed). In certain embodiments, software control fully automates the system, enabling an operator to select a particular ion beam target, and the system automatically adjusts the required distance to the ion beam target and the intensity of the ion beam.

[0033] Figure 1 shows an exemplary schematic diagram of an accelerator system installed in a test facility. In this figure, part 10 shows a neutron generation target assembly, part 20 shows a high-energy beam transport assembly, part 30 shows an ion beam accelerator, and part 40 shows a low-energy beam transport assembly. Also, in this figure, part 50 shows an ion source, part 60 shows an auxiliary control cabinet, part 70 shows a radiation shield, and part 80 shows a radiation shield.

[0034] Figure 2 shows an exemplary box diagram of an accelerator system, a test facility, and control components. As shown in this figure, a single-energy neutron system is composed of components of an ion source (e.g., a TORVIS ion source), a low-energy beam transport component, an accelerator (e.g., a tandem accelerator), a high-energy beam transport, and a target station. The target station can be configured, for example, for LiF and TiD1.5 targets. Also shown in this figure is an integrated control system that controls all of the aforementioned components. The integrated control system is controlled by an operator who interacts with the system via a control console at an operator station.

[0035] Figure 3 shows an exemplary portion of an accelerator system including a target station. This figure shows that a beam (arrow) coming from a focusing and steering station passes through a turbopump, a valve (e.g., a VAT series 750 high-speed accelerator isolation valve), and then enters a target chamber having a collimator (e.g., a four-finger collimator having a calorimetry and current measurement system) and a target (e.g., one of a plurality of replaceable targets).

[0036] Figure 4A shows an exemplary embodiment in which a beam dump blocks the beam line within the target chamber so that the beam line cannot then collide with the target. Figure 4B shows how the beam dump can be retracted to allow the beam to continue to proceed to the collimator and the target. The beam dump is water-cooled. When the beam is captured by the beam dump, it can be measured by a collimator (e.g., a four-finger collimator).

[0037] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary target station. A collimator is shown in front of the target (e.g., a four-finger collimator).

[0038] Figure 6 shows a top view (6A) and a cross-sectional view (6B) of an exemplary target holding flange for use in the system of this specification. The outer ring ConFlat has alignment pins and can be composed of stainless steel. The ConFlat flange can be composed of, for example, stainless steel explosively bonded to aluminum. The target is fixedly held in place by a water-cooled line that is a vacuum-coupled radiation (VCR) type fitting.

[0039] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary target station. In this figure, interleaved non-contact collimator leaves are shown above the ion beam target.

[0040] Figure 8 shows an exemplary four-finger collimator and a holding mechanism. The connection part of the holding mechanism can be a brazed ceramic for thermal and electrical insulation. A standard CF flange seal is shown together with four insulation cooling circuits for heat measurement and a pair of alignment pins. A four-finger collimator having a central tantalum proton sink and an outer copper heat sink is shown.

[0041] All publications and patents provided herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Various modifications and variations of the described configurations and methods of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed is not unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications that are obvious to those skilled in the relevant art to the described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0042] Also, the present disclosure includes the following numbered clauses.

[0043] 1. A system for generating neutrons of a plurality of various single energies, a) an ion source configured to produce an ion beam, b) an accelerator operably coupled to the ion source, configured to receive the ion beam and accelerate the ion beam to produce an accelerated ion beam, c) a target station comprising a target holding mechanism, d) a plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets, each of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets i) being configured to be held by the target holding mechanism and ii) When the accelerated ion beam collides, a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a specific single energy are generated among the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets. The plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets, comprising: A system, when the accelerated ion beam collides, a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a single energy in a range of at least 300 kiloelectron volts (keV) are provided by the entire plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets.

[0044] 2. Each of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets contains LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 , TiT 1-2 , ErD 1.5 , ErT or Li, or consists of LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 , TiT 1-2 , ErD 1.5 , ErT or Li, or substantially consists of LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 , TiT 1-2 , ErD 1.5 , ErT or Li, the system according to clause 1. The system according to clause 1.

[0045] 3. Each of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets iii) has a specific thickness among the plurality of ion beam targets, The system according to clause 1.

[0046] 4. The system according to clause 1, wherein a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a single energy in a range of at least 1 megaelectron volt (MeV) are provided by the entire plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets.

[0047] 5. The system according to clause 1, wherein a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a single energy in a range of at least 10 megaelectron volts are provided by the entirety of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets.

[0048] 6. The system according to clause 1, wherein the neutron energy of the single energy of each of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets differs from each other by at least 100 keV.

[0049] 7. The system according to clause 1, wherein the neutron energy of the single energy of each of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets differs from each other by at least 500 keV.

[0050] 8. The system according to clause 1, wherein the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets includes at least three ion beam targets.

[0051] 9. The plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets i) a first ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 300 keV, ii) a second ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 1 MeV, iii) a third ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 2.5 MeV, iv) a fourth ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 4 MeV, v) a fifth ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 6 MeV, and vi) a sixth ion beam target that generates a neutron energy value of a single energy of about 14 MeV, and the system according to clause 1.

[0052] 10. further comprising a control system The system according to clause 1, wherein the control system comprises software configured to change the incident ion energy of the accelerated ion beam based on which of the plurality of exchangeable ion beam targets is held by the target holding mechanism.

[0053] 11. The system according to clause 1, further comprising a test facility configured to scan an item with the plurality of neutrons.

[0054] 12. The system according to clause 11, wherein the item is selected from the group consisting of a space system, space equipment, aircraft parts, infrastructure, materials and parts that may be subject to radiation damage, and parts of a transportation system.

[0055] 13. The system according to clause 1, further comprising a collimator.

[0056] 14. The system according to clause 1, wherein the target station further comprises a water cooling system.

[0057] 15. a) inserting a first target from a set of at least two ion beam targets into an ion beam accelerator that generates an accelerated ion beam; b) operating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that the accelerated ion beam impinges on the first target, thereby generating a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a first single energy; c) removing the first target from the ion beam accelerator; d) inserting a second target from the set of at least two targets into the ion beam accelerator; e) operating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that the ion beam collides with the second target, thereby generating a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a second single energy that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from the neutron energy value of the first single energy; A method comprising.

[0058] 16. The method according to clause 15, wherein the neutron energy value of the second single energy is at least 500 kiloelectron volts different from the neutron energy value of the first single energy.

[0059] 17. The at least two ion beam targets include at least three ion beam targets, f) removing the second target from the ion beam accelerator; g) inserting a third target from the set of at least three targets into the ion beam accelerator; h) operating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that the ion beam collides with the third target, thereby generating a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a third single energy that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from both the neutron energy values of the first and second single energies; The method according to clause 15, further comprising.

[0060] 18. The method according to clause 17, wherein the neutron energy value of the third single energy is at least 500 kiloelectron volts different from the neutron energy values of the first and second single energies.

[0061] 19. The at least three ion beam targets include at least four ion beam targets, i) removing the third target from the ion beam accelerator; j) inserting a fourth target from the set of at least four targets into the ion beam accelerator; k) operating the ion beam accelerator for a length of time such that an ion beam impinges on the fourth target, thereby generating a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a fourth single energy that differs from all of the neutron energy values of the first, second, and third single energies by at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV); The method according to claim 17, further comprising.

[0062] 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the neutron energy value of the fourth single energy differs from the neutron energy values of the first, second, and third single energies by at least 500 kiloelectron volts.

[0063] 21. Each of the plurality of ion beam targets LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 TiT 1-2 ErD 1.5 ErT or Li, or LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 TiT 1-2 ErD 1.5 ErT or Li, or Or consists essentially of LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 TiT 1-2 ErD 1.5 ErT or Li, according to any one of claims 15 - 20.

[0064] 22. Each of the at least four ion beam targets has a unique thickness among the first, second, third, and fourth ion beam targets, according to the method of claim 19.

[0065] 23. The method according to clause 19, wherein the at least four ion beam targets together provide a plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a single energy ranging from at least 10 mega electron volts (MeV).

[0066] 24. The method according to clause 15, further comprising, between step b) and step c), scanning an item using the plurality of neutrons having a neutron energy value of a first single energy.

[0067] 25. The method according to clause 24, wherein the item is selected from the group consisting of components of a space system, space equipment, aircraft parts, infrastructure, and transportation systems.

[0068] 26. The method according to clause 19, wherein each of the at least four ion beam targets generates a neutron energy value of a different single energy selected from the group consisting of about 300 keV, about 1 MeV, about 2.5 MeV, about 4 MeV, about 6 MeV, and about 14 MeV.

[0069] 27. a) a computer processor; b) a non-transitory computer memory including one or more computer programs and a database, the one or more computer programs including accelerator system operation software; c) the following plurality of subsystems operably communicating with the non-transitory computer memory: i) a target station comprising a target holding mechanism configured to hold one of the plurality of ion beam targets; and ii) a beam generation subsystem that generates an ion beam having an intensity adjusted by the accelerator system operation software based on which of the plurality of ion beam targets is present in the ion beam accelerator system. The ion beam accelerator system including one or more of the subsystems, wherein the accelerator system operating software can automatically adjust the ion beam accelerator system to capture a specific ion beam target present within the ion beam accelerator system selected from the plurality of ion beam targets. A system comprising.

Claims

1. A collimator for receiving an ion beam, wherein a plurality of fingers are formed by aggregating into a ring having a central opening, each of the plurality of fingers includes, a proton sink located at the periphery of the ring, adjacent to the central opening in the radial direction, a heat sink located at the outer periphery of the ring, and an insulated cooling circuit, each of the insulated cooling circuits is isolated from each other and performs heat quantity measurement, the collimator.

2. Each of the proton sinks includes tantalum, the collimator according to claim 1.

3. Each of the heat sinks includes copper, the collimator according to claim 1.

4. The plurality of fingers includes at least four fingers, the collimator according to claim 1.

5. The collimator according to claim 1, further comprising a current measurement system.

6. The plurality of fingers are interleaved, the collimator according to claim 1.

7. The adjacent plurality of fingers do not contact each other, the collimator according to claim 1.

8. The adjacent plurality of fingers are arranged with a gap therebetween in the circumferential direction, the collimator according to claim 7.

9. A step of directing an ion beam at a collimator having a plurality of fingers formed by aggregating into a ring having a central opening, colliding a first portion of the ion beam with the collimator and passing a second portion of the ion beam through the central opening, each of the plurality of fingers includes, a proton sink located at the periphery of the ring, adjacent to the central opening in the radial direction, a heat sink located at the outer periphery of the ring, and an insulated cooling circuit, each of the insulated cooling circuits is isolated from each other and performs heat quantity measurement, the step, and a step of measuring a beam current of the first portion of the ion beam using the collimator. A method including.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of directing the second portion of the ion beam at an ion beam target to thereby generate neutrons.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first portion of the ion beam is collided with the proton sink of the plurality of fingers.

12. The ion beam target is LiF, TiD １．５－１．８ , TiT １－２ , ErD １．５ , ErT or Li, the method according to claim 10.

13. Determining a beam current of the second portion of the ion beam, the method according to claim 9.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: before the step of directing the ion beam towards the collimator, a step of directing the first portion and the second portion of the ion beam towards a beam dump; a step of measuring the total beam current of the ion beam using the beam dump; and a step of retracting the beam dump from the path of the ion beam.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising determining the beam current of the second portion of the ion beam using the beam current of the first portion of the ion beam measured using the collimator and the total beam current of the ion beam measured using the beam dump.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the proton sink comprises tantalum and the heat sink comprises copper.

17. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of fingers comprises at least four fingers.

18. The method according to claim 9, wherein the collimator further comprises a current measurement system.

19. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of fingers are interleaved.

20. The method according to claim 9, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of fingers do not contact each other.

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