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A neutron source composed of a tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation and a lithium target is used to develop the boron neutron capture therapy and other applications. The dependence of the proton beam size on the target surface on the beam current is measured with thermocouples inserted inside the target and with a infrared camera. It is found that there is no appreciable influence of the spatial charge on the proton beam transport to a distance of 5 m from the accelerator to the target, which simplifies the neutron source operation.

The production of a deuteron beam in a vacuum-insulated tandem accelerator and the generation of fast neutrons from a lithium target have been investigated. The possibility of using a source of fast neutrons for radiation testing of materials and for fast-neutron therapy is discussed.