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Main Authors: Jing, Shiwei, Song, Jia, Liu, Shengduo, Zhang, Weiyang, Zhou, Sijia, Xu, Hailong, Li, Zebin, Zhang, Tin, Gao, Zhihu, Qu, Guofeng
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.25668
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author Jing, Shiwei
Song, Jia
Liu, Shengduo
Zhang, Weiyang
Zhou, Sijia
Xu, Hailong
Li, Zebin
Zhang, Tin
Gao, Zhihu
Qu, Guofeng
author_facet Jing, Shiwei
Song, Jia
Liu, Shengduo
Zhang, Weiyang
Zhou, Sijia
Xu, Hailong
Li, Zebin
Zhang, Tin
Gao, Zhihu
Qu, Guofeng
contents Sealed neutron tubes have a wide range of applications, and the ion source is their core component. Penning ion sources commonly suffer from issues such as uneven magnetic field distribution and a low proportion of monoatomic ions. Improving the performance of the ion source can effectively address the problems of low neutron flux and short operational lifespan. This study aims to optimise the magnetic field configuration and discharge parameters of the ion source, thereby increasing the proportion of monoatomic and enhancing discharge stability, and to provide a design basis for high-performance sealed neutron tubes. Develop a magnetic field-plasma coupling model to compare and analyze the magnetic field distribution patterns of traditional magnetic block structures and soft iron-reinforced structures, and investigate the mechanisms by which operating pressure and anode voltage affect plasma density and ion composition using COMSOL multiphysics simulation methods. Simulation results indicate that the soft iron structure significantly enhances the axial magnetic field strength and uniformity within the discharge region; under conditions of 0.06 Pa gas pressure and 1500 V anode voltage, the proportion of monoatomic ions increased from the conventional 9% to 30%.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_25668
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Optimized design of a Penning ion source for sealed neutron tube
Jing, Shiwei
Song, Jia
Liu, Shengduo
Zhang, Weiyang
Zhou, Sijia
Xu, Hailong
Li, Zebin
Zhang, Tin
Gao, Zhihu
Qu, Guofeng
Plasma Physics
Sealed neutron tubes have a wide range of applications, and the ion source is their core component. Penning ion sources commonly suffer from issues such as uneven magnetic field distribution and a low proportion of monoatomic ions. Improving the performance of the ion source can effectively address the problems of low neutron flux and short operational lifespan. This study aims to optimise the magnetic field configuration and discharge parameters of the ion source, thereby increasing the proportion of monoatomic and enhancing discharge stability, and to provide a design basis for high-performance sealed neutron tubes. Develop a magnetic field-plasma coupling model to compare and analyze the magnetic field distribution patterns of traditional magnetic block structures and soft iron-reinforced structures, and investigate the mechanisms by which operating pressure and anode voltage affect plasma density and ion composition using COMSOL multiphysics simulation methods. Simulation results indicate that the soft iron structure significantly enhances the axial magnetic field strength and uniformity within the discharge region; under conditions of 0.06 Pa gas pressure and 1500 V anode voltage, the proportion of monoatomic ions increased from the conventional 9% to 30%.
title Optimized design of a Penning ion source for sealed neutron tube
topic Plasma Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.25668