New considerations for compact cyclotrons

Abstract

A compact cyclotron built with superconducting magnets could be a transformative solution to many scientific problems facing the defense, medical, and energy industries today. This thesis discusses three potential applications of compact cyclotrons: generation of ¹³ for medical imaging, active interrogation for counter-proliferation, and fast neutron imaging for Enhanced Stockpile Surveillance (ESS). The first two applications are broadly reviewed. The ESS imaging application extends from preliminary work performed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, who proposed a linear accelerator-driven ²H(d,n)³He reaction, and a complex gas-handling target subsystem. Here, the entire source-side engineering is reconsidered by investigating the viability of 56 different neutron-producing reactions. It is found through Monte Carlo simulation that the ⁷Li(p,n)⁷Be reaction could improve image contrast by employing a superconducting cyclotron capable of 3.8 MeV, 414 [mu]A proton beam and liquid lithium target.