Experiments on the neutrons produced in deuterium gas during a high‐current pulsed discharge are described. With 15 kv applied to a straight discharge tube 30 cm long, neutrons are produced during a 0.1 &mgr;sec pulse ∼1.4 &mgr;sec after gas breakdown. The yield of 107to 108neutrons per discharge depends on gas purity and the discharge tube wall material. The axial asymmetry in neutron energy indicates that the neutrons are produced in reactions whose center of mass moves preferentially towards the cathode.