Thank you! From the cited "REFERENCES", I was able to locate the paper online:Meir Achuz said:Detection of Fissioning Materials Using a Neutron Source Based on a Compact Betatron
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A Betatron nuclear trigger is a type of particle accelerator used in the early 1950s to generate high-energy electrons. These electrons were used to create intense gamma rays, which could then be used to initiate nuclear reactions, particularly in the context of nuclear weapons research and development.
A Betatron operates by accelerating electrons in a circular path using a changing magnetic field. The magnetic field both confines and accelerates the electrons, causing them to emit gamma rays as they reach high energies. These gamma rays can then be directed to interact with nuclear materials.
The Betatron was used to produce high-energy gamma rays that could induce fission in nuclear materials. This capability made it a valuable tool for testing and developing nuclear weapons, as the gamma rays could initiate the nuclear reactions necessary for a weapon's detonation.
The Betatron was initially developed by Donald Kerst in the early 1940s. Its application as a nuclear trigger was explored in the 1950s, during the height of nuclear weapons research and development.
While Betatrons are not commonly used as nuclear triggers today, they have found applications in other fields such as medical imaging and radiation therapy. Modern particle accelerators have largely supplanted Betatrons in scientific research and industrial applications.