An accelerator neutron source, the ANS (200, 300) comprising: a housing (202, 302) comprising a cavity (206, 306) and a gas (220, 320) which is located within the cavity (206, 306) comprising deuterium and tritium; the housing (202, 302) is cylindrically shaped and centered about a central axis; a field ionization array (208, 308) configured to apply a voltage to generate deuterium and tritium ions from the gas (220, 320); a target (230, 330) comprising deuterium and tritium ions; an accelerating electrode (224, 324) within the cavity (206, 306); an extraction ring configured to extract deuterium and tritium ions from the cavity (206, 306) wherein the extraction ring is connected to an extraction electrode separate from the accelerating electrode (224, 324) and is configured to control the extraction of deuterium and tritium ions from the plasma; and wherein the ANS (200, 300) is configured to accelerate deuterium and tritium ions produced by the FI array (208, 308) toward the target (230, 330) to generate neutrons by applying a voltage to the accelerating electrode (224, 324) characterized in that the accelerating electrode (224, 324) is configured to accelerate the deuterium and tritium ions to the central axis using an accelerating field when a voltage is applied to the accelerating electrode (224, 324), wherein the FI array (208, 308) is arranged coaxially around the accelerating electrode (224, 324) and comprises a plurality of nanotips (210, 310) positioned about a substrate (212, 406), the plurality of nanotips (210, 310) extending toward the central axis of the housing (202, 302) of the ANS (200, 300). a housing (202, 302) comprising a cavity (206, 306) and a gas (220, 320) which is located within the cavity (206, 306) comprising deuterium and tritium; the housing (202, 302) is cylindrically shaped and centered about a central axis; a field ionization array (208, 308) configured to apply a voltage to generate deuterium and tritium ions from the gas (220, 320); a target (230, 330) comprising deuterium and tritium ions; an accelerating electrode (224, 324) within the cavity (206, 306); an extraction ring configured to extract deuterium and tritium ions from the cavity (206, 306) wherein the extraction ring is connected to an extraction electrode separate from the accelerating electrode (224, 324) and is configured to control the extraction of deuterium and tritium ions from the plasma; and wherein the ANS (200, 300) is configured to accelerate deuterium and tritium ions produced by the FI array (208, 308) toward the target (230, 330) to generate neutrons by applying a voltage to the accelerating electrode (224, 324) characterized in that the accelerating electrode (224, 324) is configured to accelerate the deuterium and tritium ions to the central axis using an accelerating field when a voltage is applied to the accelerating electrode (224, 324), wherein the FI array (208, 308) is arranged coaxially around the accelerating electrode (224, 324) and comprises a plurality of nanotips (210, 310) positioned about a substrate (212, 406), the plurality of nanotips (210, 310) extending toward the central axis of the housing (202, 302) of the ANS (200, 300).