The MIT HEDP Accelerator Facility for Diagnostic Development for OMEGA, Z, and the NIF

The MIT HEDP Accelerator Facility utilizes a 135-keV linear electrostatic ion accelerator, DT and DD neutron sources, and two x-ray sources for development and characterization of nuclear diagnostics for OMEGA, Z, and the NIF. The accelerator generates DD and D$^{\mathrm{3}}$He fusion products through the acceleration of D$^{\mathrm{+}}$ ions onto a $^{\mathrm{3}}$He-doped Erbium-Deuteride target. Accurately characterized fusion product rates of around 10$^{\mathrm{6}}$ s$^{-}^{\mathrm{1}}$ are routinely achieved. The DT and DD neutron sources generate up to 6x10$^{\mathrm{8}}$, and 1x10$^{\mathrm{7}}$ neutrons/s, respectively. One x-ray generator is a thick-target W source with a peak energy of 225 keV and a maximum dose rate of 12 Gy/min; the other uses Cu, Mo, or Ti elemental tubes to generate x-rays with a maximum energy of 40 keV. Diagnostics developed and calibrated at this facility include CR-39-based charged-particle spectrometers, neutron detectors, and the particle Time-Of-Flight (pTOF) and Magnetic PTOF CVD-diamond-based bang time detectors. The accelerator is also a valuable hands-on tool for graduate and undergraduate education at MIT.