Our study shows that 'crystal fusion' is a mature technology with considerable commercial potential. This new device is simpler and less expensive than the previous version, and it has the potential to produce even more neutrons.

Nuclear fusion has been explored as a potential source of power, but we are not looking at this as an energy source right now.

You just heat the crystal from room temperature to about 130 degrees. Then you can use it while it's heating or while it's cooling. We're doing it while it's cooling. We're letting it cool back to room temperature, and while it's doing that it's accelerating ions, so it's like a particle accelerator that's very simple.

We published several papers explaining how these crystals produce X-rays and electron beams, and they're very efficient in doing this. So using low-energy X-rays or low-energy electron beams - by which I mean similar to the energies that are used currently in medical imaging rather than treatment - we can produce a really high dose of electrons that can penetrate a very thin layer of the skin. If such a device can produce high enough dose, then we can possibly use it for cancer treatment - and we're not far from this goal.

Our mission with this study was to launch an annual, objective evaluation of this important technology category. We wanted to give potential buyers insight into the factors that most significantly influence implementation success and long-term satisfaction so they can improve their decision making processes. The study also provides vendors with direct feedback on strengths and areas where improvements can be made.

This is a potential platform technology for developing many other kinds of therapies.