Efficient Neutron Production Using 12 MeV Electrons

A comparison of (¿,n) and atomic cross sections shows that neutron production with an electron beam can be as energy efficient with 12-MeV electrons as with the conventionally used 30- to 100-MeV electrons. Neutron production from tungsten using 100-MeV electrons is compared with a thin tungsten converter followed by a deuterium-containing target using electrons near 12 MeV. For a BeD2 target a yield of 2×1012 neutrons per kilojoule of beam power is predicted.