Pyroelectric crystal neutron production in a portable prototype vacuum system

Pyroelectric crystals are being used to ionize and accelerate D2 gas into a deuterated target to achieve D–D fusion at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Previous results from RPI yielded up to 5.9×104 neutrons over one thermal cycle; however, these results were not reproducible from one experiment to another. A portable prototype vacuum system has been developed that enhances reproducibility of results. A thermal management system...