What Adelphi Technology does

Adelphi Technology, Inc. is a privately held neutron generator manufacturer founded in 1984 by Dr. Melvin Piestrup and incorporated as a California Corporation in 1986. Headquartered at 2003 E. Bayshore Rd, Redwood City, California, the company specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of neutron generators using Deuterium-Deuterium (D-D, 2.45 MeV), Deuterium-Tritium (D-T, 14.1 MeV), and thermal (0.025 eV, moderated D-D) fusion reactions. Its product portfolio spans yields from 10^7 to over 10^10 neutrons per second across sealed tube, open (actively pumped), OEM, and Associated Particle Imaging (API) configurations, with custom-designed generators and custom radiation shielding solutions as adjunct offerings. Core technology is built around proprietary Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion sources, in-house high voltage power supplies (80kV to 225kV), semiconductor RF sources, thermal neutron moderators, and advanced neutron optics including Compound Refractive Lenses (CRL) and Periodic Magnetic Field (PMF) optics, with key intellectual property protected by US Patent US11090509B1 (Beam Shaping Apparatus).

The company serves universities, government laboratories, and commercial customers across more than 25 countries on every continent except Antarctica, with more than 100 generators deployed over 25+ years. Customer segments span research applications (dark matter detector calibration, nuclear recoil calibration, neutron optics R&D), medical applications (Technetium-99m isotope production, Boron Neutron Capture Therapy), industrial applications (nuclear decommissioning, non-destructive testing, radiation damage testing), and security applications (concealed material detection, special nuclear material identification). Adelphi generates revenue through one-time hardware sales, custom generator manufacturing contracts, contract research services (including SBIR and STTR programs with DHS, DTRA, DOE, NIH, DOD, and DARPA), custom shielding fabrication, and MCNP/GEANT4 simulation consultancy. Go-to-market is direct enterprise B2B sales with technical consultation, supported by peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and technical content on its website. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by configuration, yield, energy, target type, and application requirements. The company is founder-controlled with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company ownership.

Name

Adelphi Technology

Legal name

Adelphi Technology, Inc.

Website

https://adelphitech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adelphi Technology manufactures neutron generators (D-D, D-T, and thermal) ranging from 10^7 to 10^10 neutrons per second for universities, government laboratories, and commercial customers in research, medical isotope production, security, and industrial inspection applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation / Neutron Generators

NAICS

Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)

SIC

X-Ray Apparatus & Tubes & Related Irradiation Apparatus (3844)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Core & Ex-Core Instrumentation (Neutron Flux, Temperature, Pressure, Vibration) (EUAKADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Radioisotope Production (Reactor/Cyclotron/Gamma) (HLAIAGAD)

Keywords

• Neutron generators
• Deuterium-tritium systems
• Neutron imaging equipment
• Radiation shielding solutions
• Nuclear instrumentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Redwood City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Neutron Generator Sales: Sale of neutron generators ranging from low yield (10^7 n/s) to high yield (10^10 n/s) products including D-D, D-T, and thermal neutron generators. Both standard and custom configurations available.
2. Custom Generator Manufacturing: Custom-designed neutron generators tailored to specific customer applications including unique configurations, spot sizes, and yield requirements.
3. Contract Research Services: R&D contract research for customers and collaborative research programs with universities and small businesses. Includes government SBIR and STTR programs.
4. Custom Shielding Solutions: Design and fabrication of custom radiation shielding solutions including HDPE, borated/lithiated HDPE, lead, concrete, and stainless steel plating. Includes MCNP and GEANT4 simulation services.
5. MCNP/GEANT4 Simulation Consultancy: Neutron transport simulation consultancy services using MCNP and GEANT4 codes for radiation shielding design and optimization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Adelphi Technology manufactures compact neutron generators based on Deuterium-Deuterium (D-D, 2.45 MeV) and Deuterium-Tritium (D-T, 14.1 MeV) fusion reactions, along with moderated thermal neutron (0.025 eV) sources, with yields ranging from 10^7 to over 10^10 neutrons per second. The product portfolio includes sealed and open (actively pumped) generators, OEM variants, and Associated Particle Imaging (API) units, plus custom-designed generators, custom radiation shielding, and MCNP/GEANT4 simulation services. The company also performs contract research and participates in government SBIR/STTR programs with national laboratories.

Product overview

Adelphi Technology is a neutron generator manufacturer offering a portfolio of three main product lines: D-T (Deuterium-Tritium) neutron generators producing 14.1 MeV neutrons, D-D (Deuterium-Deuterium) neutron generators producing 2.45 MeV neutrons, and Thermal neutron generators using moderated D-D reactions producing 0.025 eV thermal neutrons. The product portfolio includes standard sealed and open (actively pumped) generators ranging from 10^7 to 10^10 neutrons per second, OEM variants for system integration, and Associated Particle Imaging (API) generators for imaging applications. Custom generator configurations and custom radiation shielding solutions are also available. The products serve applications including materials analysis, radiography, nondestructive testing, healthcare, security, and research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DT110 Series D-T Surface Target Sealed Neutron Generators Deuterium-Tritium sealed neutron generator product line producing 14.1 MeV neutrons with surface target configuration. Yields range from 1x10^9 to 2x10^10 n/s across the DT109.1gs, DT109.4gs, DT110.1gs, and DT110.2gs variants. Designed for high flux applications including radiation damage testing and high-yield research and industrial uses.
• D-T Associated Particle Imaging (API) Neutron Generators D-T neutron generator variants with Associated Particle Imaging (API) capability for 2D and 3D imaging, using scintillator and window to detect associated particles from fusion reactions. Available in DT107.1-API, DT108.1-API, and DT109.1-API configurations with yields up to 1x10^7, 1x10^8, and 1x10^9 n/s respectively and spot sizes of <2mm (with active cooling at 2.5mm for DT109.1-API).
• DT108 OEM D-T Neutron Generator D-T internal target sealed OEM neutron generator producing 1x10^8 n/s D-T with nominal 10mm spot size, designed as a stand-alone unit for integration into customer systems.
• DD110 Series D-D Internal Target Neutron Generators Deuterium-Deuterium actively pumped neutron generator product line producing 2.45 MeV neutrons with internal target configuration. Yields range from 1x10^9 to 1x10^10 n/s across DD109.1, DD109.4, and DD110.1 variants. Designed for activation analysis and imaging applications.
• DD108 Sealed D-D Generators D-D surface target sealed neutron generator product line with yields from 1x10^8 to 3x10^8 n/s. Does not require turbo pump or gas bottle. Available as DD108.1gs (up to 1x10^8 n/s) and DD108.3gs (up to 3x10^8 n/s).
• DD108 OEM D-D Neutron Generator D-D internal target actively pumped OEM neutron generator producing 1x10^8 n/s D-D with flux up to 4.6x10^7 n/s/cm2 and 12mm spot size, designed as a stand-alone unit for OEM integration.
• DD110.2-M Thermal Neutron Generator Highest yield thermal neutron source using D-D reaction with internal moderator, producing up to 2x10^10 n/s fast neutrons moderated to thermal (0.025 eV) with flux up to 1x10^8 n/s/cm2 thermal over approximately 100mm spot.
• DD109M Thermal Neutron Generators Thermal neutron generator product line using D-D reaction with internal moderator. Available in 1x10^9 and 5x10^9 n/s versions (DD109.1-M and DD109.5-M) with thermal flux up to 1x10^6 n/s/cm2 over approximately 100mm spot.
• Custom Neutron Generators Customized neutron generators tailored to specific customer requirements including modified configurations, specialized target designs, and custom form factors. Includes integration of beam shaping apparatus and thermal neutron moderator options.
• Custom Radiation Shielding Custom shielding solutions designed for specific applications using materials including HDPE, borated/lithiated HDPE, lead, concrete, and stainless steel plating. Includes MCNP and GEANT4 simulation services for optimal shielding design and neutron transport optimization.
• 4-Generator System Custom integrated system featuring four thermal neutron generators producing combined yield of 4x10^10 n/s with flux greater than 10^8 n/s/cm2, developed in 2018 for high thermal neutron flux applications.
• 4-Beam Generator System Custom D-D/epithermal 4-beam generator system producing 4x10^8 n/s D-D with 20mm spot size, developed in 2014/2015 for neutron activation studies.
• Contract Research Services R&D contract research for customers and collaborative research programs with universities and small businesses. Includes participation in government SBIR and STTR programs across DHS, DTRA, DOE, NIH, DOD, and DARPA, with 40+ government contracts over 15+ years.
• MCNP/GEANT4 Neutron Transport Simulation Consultancy Neutron transport simulation consultancy services using MCNP and GEANT4 codes for radiation shielding design and optimization. Provided in conjunction with custom shielding design and engineering engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• World's best spin-independent dark matter detection limit: 2.1x10^-48 cm^2 at 90% confidence level at 36 GeV/c^2 mass
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) CollaborationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdelphi's DD109 generator was used to calibrate the LUX-ZEPLIN detector for dark matter research. The LZ detector holds the world's strongest spin-independent cross-section limit for WIMP detection at 2.1x10^-48 cm^2.
• Brown UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Brown University and the Large Underground Xenon collaboration using the LUX Detector and Adelphi DD108 generator for world's lowest energy nuclear recoil calibration of liquid xenon for dark matter searches.
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 15 years of collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on development of high-current ion sources driven by RF or microwave power for neutron production in Adelphi's product line.
• Stanford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration with Stanford University researchers including Dr. Piestrup on development of novel sources of vacuum ultraviolet, soft and hard x-rays using Cerenkov, transition and parametric radiators, and neutron sources and optics.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on neutron optics and devices for small angle scattering and radiography applications.
• Louisiana State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on neutron optics and devices for small angle scattering and radiography applications.
• Indian UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on neutron optics and devices for small angle scattering and radiography applications.
• Naval Postgraduate SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRented time on linac at Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey California to perform transition radiation experiments for a customer investigating soft X-ray laser applications.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Phoenix LLC (SHINE Technologies): Phoenix, now part of SHINE Technologies, manufactures D-D fusion neutron generators and is Adelphi's closest direct competitor in compact neutron source hardware, with overlapping applications in medical isotope production and industrial radiography.
• Sodern: Sodern, an Airbus subsidiary, produces neutron generators primarily for oil and gas well logging, aerospace, and defense applications, directly competing with Adelphi's sealed D-T generator product line.
• Starfire Industries: Starfire Industries develops compact fusion-based neutron generators and plasma ion sources for national security and industrial applications, making it a direct technical competitor with overlapping customer segments in government R&D.

Emerging players

• Niowave: Niowave produces accelerator-based neutron sources via superconducting linacs, serving medical isotope production and national security markets with a different technology approach but overlapping customer applications.
• SHINE Medical Technologies: SHINE is commercializing fusion-neutron-based Mo-99/Tc-99m production to displace aging reactor-based supply chains, representing an emerging competitor and potential commercial partner for Adelphi in the medical isotope value chain.

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher is a broad scientific instrumentation incumbent offering irradiation, measurement, and analytical instruments; while not a direct neutron generator competitor, it represents an incumbent that could expand into Adelphi's served markets.
• Halliburton: Halliburton operates pulsed neutron logging tools and downhole neutron sources for oilfield services, representing an incumbent in neutron-based industrial instrumentation with vastly greater capital and scale.
• SLB (Schlumberger): SLB offers neutron-based well logging and formation evaluation services, representing another oilfield-services incumbent using neutron sources at industrial scale.

Others

• Mirion Technologies: Mirion is a leading provider of radiation detection, measurement, and monitoring technologies; not a direct neutron generator competitor but an adjacent ecosystem participant serving overlapping customer segments in nuclear research, security, and healthcare.
• Lantheus Holdings: Lantheus is a radiopharmaceutical company specializing in diagnostic imaging agents including Tc-99m-adjacent products; it represents a downstream customer/partner in the medical isotope value chain where Adelphi's generators could supply inputs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adelphi-technology-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Adelphi Technology