An intense neutrino source based on the 7Li isotope: Reactor and accelerator design

Abstract

The creation of an intense antineutrino source with a hard \(\tilde \nu _e\) spectrum based on the reaction of activation by 7Li(n, γ)8Li is proposed. When decaying, the resulting β− active 8Li isotope, emits a hard \(\tilde \nu _e\) spectra with Eν up to 13 MeV at an average energy of ∼6.5 MeV. This \(\tilde \nu _e\) source can be created on the basis of a nuclear reactor with a high-purity 7Li blanket. Stationary and dynamic modes are possible when lithium are pumped in the closed cycle through the bulk reservoir (lithium converter) near the active reactor zone and then to the distant \(\tilde \nu _e\) detector. The accelerated development of a \(\tilde \nu _e\) source in a setup based on a combination of an accelerator and a neutron-producing target inside a lithium converter is also considered. A tungsten target on a proton accelerator with energies of up to 300 MeV is discussed as well. The results from calculating the neutron yield from the target and the formation of 8Li and a \(\tilde \nu _e\) flux are presented.