IFMIF, an Accelerator-Based Neutron Source for Fusion Components Irradiation Testing Materials Testing Capabilities

Abstract

The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) is proposed as an advanced accelerator-based neutron source for high-flux irradiation testing of large-sized fusion reactor components. The facility would require only small extensions to existing accelerator and target technology originally developed for the Fusion Materials Irradiation Test (FMIT) facility. At the extended facility, neutrons would be produced by a 0.1-A beam of 35-MeV deuterons incident upon a liquid lithium target. The volume available for high-flux (>10/sup 15/ n/cm/sup 2/-s) testing in the base version of IFMIF would be 40 cm/sup 3/, a factor of over five larger than in the FMIT facility. This is because the effective beam current of 35-MeV deuterons on target can be increased by a factor of 2.5. Such an increase can be accomplished by funnelling beams of deuterium ions from the radio-frequency quadruple into a linear accelerator and by taking advantage of recent developments in accelerator technology. Multiple modules and the resulting large total current allow great variety in available testing. For example, multiple simultaneous experiments, and great flexibility in tailoring spatial distributions of flux and spectra can be achieved.