The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded several contracts in response to a Broad Agency Announcement for development of “Intense and Compact Neutron Sources (ICONS).”
The ICONS program sought innovative ideas and novel approaches to achieve revolutionary increases in neutron source intensity and reductions in device size, weight, and power (SWaP) for in-the-field neutron radiography and analytical techniques.
Read more about ICONS at Global Biodefense: DARPA BAA – Intense and Compact Neutron Sources
The following organizations have received awards:
- Adelphi Technology, $1,155,308, on March 20, 2015
- Starfire Industries, $4,940,280, on April 21, 2015
- SRI International, $917,481, on April 14, 2015
By the end of the three-year program, ICONS aims to demonstrate highly portable prototypes at technological readiness level1 (TRL) of 5, capable of high resolution neutron radiography on timescales of 10s of minutes: a tool-box size isotropic source; and a human-portable directional neutron source.
Further details are available via Solicitation Number: DARPA-BAA-14-62.