Experimental study of a model of a neutron generator based on a diode with collective acceleration of deuterons by a pulsed electron beam

An experimental study of a model of a neutron generator based on a diode with collective acceleration of deuterons by a pulsed electron beam was reported. The pulsed voltage generator with a Tesla transformer or an Arkadiev Marx generator charges the forming Blumlein line. A high negative electric potential is induced on the line electrode. Glycerin was used as a liquid insulating dielectric filling the space between the electrodes of the forming line. The deuterons formed in the containment region of the electron beam between the forming electrode and the target as a result of electron-impact ionization of the deuterium atoms by the laser beam lie at the bottom of the potential well, which starts to move with partial compensation of the negative space charge by the ions. In the experiments, the neutron yield reached 106 per pulse with 10 to 50 nsec burst. The neutrons were generated in the pulse-periodic mode with frequency 1 Hz.