Some may laugh, but this looks very much like "Beam Power Tubes" of old, complete with a grid and beam forming screen with heat as a catalyst instead of high voltage. Enlighten me FReepers.
i did a little googling of neutron production and found that there are devices out there that will produce neutrons if that's what your interested in doing.
but I don't really understand the subject sufficiently to have much more to say on it.