Abstract
THE first of the two possible D—D reactions has long been used as a source of mono-energetic neutrons. To use it as a standard source of neutrons requires either the counting of all the neutrons, using, for example, a water-tank method, or the counting of the helium-3 particles, which is difficult because of their very short range. But if, with given conditions, the ratio of the number of helium-3 particles to the number of hydrogen-3 or hydrogen-1 particles from the second reaction is once found, then the neutron flux may afterwards be determined merely by counting the number of hydrogen particles, which is much easier owing to their greater range.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Thonemann, P. C., J. Sci. Instr., 26, 156 (1949).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McNEILL, K., THONEMANN, P. & PRICE, F. The D—D Reaction as a Standard Neutron Source. Nature 166, 28 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1038/166028a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/166028a0
This article is cited by
-
Contribution of High-Energy Particles to Thermonuclear Reaction Rates
Nature (1958)
-
Die Winkelverteilung der bei den D, D-Reaktionen im Bereich niedriger D-Energien emittierten Teilchen
Zeitschrift f�r Physik (1954)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.