Chinese researchers have developed a compact nuclear device capable of generating powerful neutron beams using common elements—hydrogen and lithium.
Developed in China’s northwestern military-industrial center, this groundbreaking particle gun uses an innovative electromagnetic method to collide hydrogen protons with lithium atoms. The resulting reaction achieves nuclear fusion in a way never seen before by creating a beam, no larger than a nail, that emits an astounding 10 billion fast neutrons per second.
Each neutron in the beam carries about 3 million electron volts, a level of energy akin to particles discharged in atomic bomb explosions. But unlike bombs, these neutrons serve a peaceful—or at least versatile—purpose. Thanks to their lack of electric charge, neutrons can pass through dense materials undeterred, earning them the nickname “atomic flashlights.”
In controlled beams, they become precision tools for revealing microscopic details in materials or organic tissues. They’re vital in scanning for cracks in bridges or aircraft wings, identifying tumors, detecting explosives, or even probing the atomic structures in viruses. As the researchers noted, neutron beams were once thought to be the domain of massive installations but not anymore.
Though neutron weapons like the Cold War-era “clean bomb” were built to kill without damaging infrastructure, practical directed energy weapons remain in the realm of science fiction. The researchers stress there’s “no evidence suggesting the hydrogen-lithium gun can be immediately used as a weapon.”
The real marvel lies in the compactness of the system. The pulse drive, according to the Xian Modern Control Technology Research Institute, is roughly the size of a fire extinguisher and requires only 10 watts of DC current. Within this device, a mechanical hammer hits piezoelectric ceramics, which transform mechanical impact into lightning-fast electrical pulses reaching one million volts in just nanoseconds.
These electrical surges are directed into a teacup-sized nuclear reactor, superheating hydrogen gas and creating an electromagnetic cage. This cage compresses the plasma into a near-perfect sphere, where protons are launched into a lithium-coated cathode.
The real game-changer? A novel approach called “polarised resonance,” which enhances the likelihood of nuclear fusion by a million times compared to standard methods. Under these extreme conditions, the reaction produces beryllium and boron, releasing vast neutron energy.
What sets this apart is its use of readily available materials. As Yuan Jun, senior engineer and lead researcher, wrote in the team’s paper: “The most notable feature of this reaction lies in its use of entirely conventional materials: common lithium and hydrogen.”
Hydrogen and lithium, both central to the green energy movement, are now proving themselves as key players in compact nuclear science. The team highlighted their high reaction cross-sections and the bonus of neutron multiplication effects.
Published in the journal High Power Laser and Particle Beams, the study also emphasized that “this method hasn’t appeared in any published records so far,” underscoring its originality.
The system also operated for a full 30 minutes without interruption in test runs proof of its reliability. As the authors summarized:
“It represents a self-contained pulse generation system distinguished by four critical advantages: elimination of external high-voltage power sources, electronically controlled repeatable operation without duty cycle limitations, substantial power amplification capabilities, and cost-effective design with structural simplicity and operational robustness.”
