Systems and methods employing interchangeable ion beam targets
Provided herein are systems and methods for generating a plurality of different monoenergetic neutron energies using a plurality of interchangeable ion beam targets. In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of ion beam targets is configured to generate a monoenergetic energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from the other ion beam targets. In some embodiments, the ion beam targets are composed of LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 , TiT 1-2 , ErD 1.5 , ErT, or Li.
1 . A collimator configured to receive an ion beam, the collimator comprising:
a plurality of fingers collectively forming an annulus having a central opening, wherein each finger of the plurality of fingers comprises: a proton sink positioned at an inner perimeter of the annulus, radially adjacent the central opening; and a heat sink positioned at an outer perimeter of the annulus; wherein each of the plurality of fingers is wedge shaped; and
a plurality of cooling circuits; wherein each of the plurality of cooling circuits is integrated inside a respective one of the plurality of fingers;
wherein each of the plurality of cooling circuits is isolated from the other of the plurality of cooling circuits and configured to perform calorimetry.
2 . The collimator of claim 1 , wherein each proton sink comprises tantalum.
3 . The collimator of claim 1 , wherein each heat sink comprises copper.
4 . The collimator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fingers comprises at least four fingers.
5 . The collimator of claim 1 , further comprising a current measurement system.
6 . The collimator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fingers is interleaved.
7 . The collimator of claim 1 , wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of fingers are not in contact with each other.
8 . The collimator of claim 7 , wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of fingers are circumferentially spaced apart from each other.
9 . A method comprising:
directing an ion beam onto a collimator having a plurality of fingers collectively forming an annulus having a central opening, wherein a first portion of the ion beam strikes the collimator and a second portion of the ion beam passes through the central opening, and wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprises: a proton sink positioned at an inner perimeter of the annulus, radially adjacent the central opening; and a heat sink positioned at an outer perimeter of the annulus; wherein each of the plurality of fingers is wedge shaped; and
wherein each of the plurality of cooling circuits is integrated inside a respective one of the plurality of fingers; wherein each of the plurality of cooling circuits is isolated from the other of the plurality of cooling circuits and configured to perform calorimetry; and
measuring a beam current of the first portion of the ion beam using the collimator.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising directing the second portion of the ion beam onto an ion beam target, thereby generating neutrons.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first portion of the ion beam strikes the proton sinks of the plurality of fingers.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the ion beam target comprises LiF, TiD 1.5-1.8 , TiT 1-2 , ErD 1.5 , ErT, or Li.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining a beam current of the second portion of the ion beam.
14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising, prior to directing the ion beam onto the collimator, directing the first portion and the second portion of the ion beam into a beam dump, measuring a total beam current of the ion beam using the beam dump, and retracting the beam dump away from a pathway of the ion beam.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining a beam current of the second portion of the ion beam using the beam current of the first portion of the ion beam measured using the collimator and the total beam current of the ion beam measured using the beam dump.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the proton sink comprises tantalum and the heat sink comprises copper.
17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fingers comprises at least four fingers.
18 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the collimator further comprises a current measurement system.
19 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fingers is interleaved.
20 . The method of claim 9 , wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of fingers are not in contact with each other.
21 . The collimator of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fingers further comprises the proton sink entirely positioned radially inward with respect to the heat sink.
22 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of fingers further comprises the proton sink entirely positioned radially inward with respect to the heat sink.