A neutron generator is a device that uses an electrical discharge to produce neutrons. The most common type of neutron generator is the linear accelerator, which uses an electron beam to strike a target material and generate neutrons. Other types of neutron generators include particle accelerators, spallation sources, and fusion reactors.
Neutron generators are used in a variety of applications, including nuclear physics research, cancer treatment, and industrial testing. In nuclear physics research, neutron generators are used to create reactions that cannot be achieved with natural sources of radiation. Cancer treatment facilities use neutron generators to deliver high doses of radiation to cancerous tumors while sparing healthy tissue. Industrial testing laboratories use neutron generators to test materials for strength and durability.
The first neutron generator was built in the early 1930s by Enrico Fermi and his colleagues at the University of Rome. This early model was based on the design of a linear accelerator developed by Ernest Lawrence at the University of California, Berkeley. The first commercial neutron generator was built in 1957 by American engineer Gilbert Plass.
Today, there are dozens of manufacturers producing hundreds of different models of neutron generators. Neutron generator technology has continued to evolve over the years, with newer models offering higher performance and greater reliability than older models.