Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A cylindrical gamma ray generator, comprising:a cylindrical RF-driven plasma ion source for producing a single proton hydrogen ion containing plasma;a single proton hydrogen gas source in fluid communication with said plasma ion source whereby single proton ionized hydrogen gas can be introduced into said ion source;a cylindrically-shaped radial ion extractor system, the system disposed coaxially about the ion source for extracting proton ions radially from the ion source; whereinthe proton ions extracted from the source by the cylindrical extractor system are directed with an energy of approximately 165 keV at a cylindrical target comprising boron carbide (B4C) disposed coaxially outside and spaced from the proton plasma ion source, wherein the target material undergoes proton/gamma (p,γ) reaction when irradiated by the proton ions to produce gamma rays having an energy level above 6 MeV. 2. The generator of claim 1, further comprising an RF antenna disposed within the ion source. 3. The generator of claim 1, further comprising water cooling within the RF antenna. 4. The generator of claim 1, wherein the cylindrically-shaped radial ion extractor system comprises a plurality of axially extending slots. 5. The generator of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum chamber disposed to contain the target. 6. A generator for detecting special nuclear materials, comprising:a cylindrical gamma generator of claim 1;a shield surrounding parts of the generator to prevent gammas from escaping in undesired directions;an associated neutron detector for detecting neutrons produced by gamma reaction with the special nuclear materials. 7. A higher power gamma generator, comprising, a plurality of individual gamma ray generators of claim 1, stacked one on top of another. 8. The generator of claim 7, wherein a first and a second adjoining generators share high voltage sources. 9. The generator of claim 8, wherein the second and third adjoining generators share a pumping chamber.