NANO-EMITTER ION SOURCE NEUTRON GENERATOR

• Main Authors: Navarro-Sorroche Juan, Guo Weijun
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.10.2016
• Subjects: CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; MEASURING; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING; NUCLEAR PHYSICS; PHYSICS; PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OFNEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMICBEAMS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES; TESTING

A well logging tool includes a neutron generator having an ion source for ion production by electron impact ionization wherein ionization current trajectory is determined by an electric field and an at least partially misaligned magnetic field. The electric field can be provided by an electrode arrangement having a cathode associated with a field emitter array including a multitude of nanoemitters. The magnetic field can be provided by a permanent magnet incorporated in the neutron generator to act transversely to the electric field in at least part of an ion source chamber in which an ionization current emitted by the field emitter array travels through an ionizable gas. Charged particles traveling through the ionizable gas thus follow respective trajectories that are longer than would be the case in the absence of the magnetic field, thereby increasing ionization probability.