Channeling Effect in Polycrystalline Deuterium-Saturated CVD Diamond Target Bombarded by Deuterium Ion Beam

TL;DR

This study investigates neutron production from deuterium-saturated CVD diamond under deuterium ion bombardment, revealing significant anisotropy in neutron yield likely due to ion channeling effects.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of neutron yield anisotropy in polycrystalline diamond during deuterium ion irradiation, highlighting the role of ion channeling.

Findings

Neutron yield is up to three times higher at zero target angle.

Significant anisotropy in neutron emission depends on target orientation.

Ion channeling is a probable cause of observed anisotropy.

Abstract

At the ion accelerator HELIS at the LPI, the neutron yield is investigated in DD reactions within a polycrystalline deuterium-saturated CVD diamond, during an irradiation of its surface by a deuterium ion beam with the energy less than 30 keV. The measurements of the neutron flux in the beam direction are performed in dependence on the target angle, \b{eta}, with respect to the beam axis. These measurements are performed using a multichannel detector based on He3 counters. A significant anisotropy in neutron yield is observed, it was higher by a factor of 3 at \b{eta}=0 compared to that at \b{eta} = +-45{\deg}. The possible reasons for the anisotropy, including ion channeling, are discussed.