LINAC-BASED PHOTONUCLEAR APPLICATIONS AT THE IDAHO ACCELERATOR CENTER

Mayir Mamtimin,Frank Harmon,Valeriia N Starovoitova

doi:10.1142/s201019451460146x

Abstract

In this paper, current Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC) activities based on the exploitation of high energy bremsstrahlung photons generated by linear electron accelerators will be reviewed. These beams are used to induce photonuclear interactions for a wide variety of applications in materials science, activation analysis, medical research, and nuclear technology. Most of the exploited phenomena are governed by the familiar giant dipole resonance cross section in nuclei. By proper target and converter design, optimization of photon and photoneutron production can be achieved, allowing radiation fields produced with both photons and neutrons to be used for medical isotope production and for fission product transmutation. The latter provides a specific application example that supports long-term fission product waste management. Using high-energy, highpower electron accelerators, we can demonstrate transmutation of radio-toxic, long-lived fission products (LLFP) such as 99Tc and 129I into short lived species. The latest experimental and simulation results will be presented.

Highlights

Bremsstrahlung photons,[1,2] produced by the interaction of electrons with a high Z converter, have a unique continuous energy spectrum that can be "tuned" to some extent by electron beam energy and converter geometry
As a result, mixed fields are produced in which neutron to photon ratios and their energy distributions may be varied by electron beam energy and converter design
The MCNPX results show that the 99Tc transmutation rate is the highest when the target is surrounded by water

Summary

Introduction

Bremsstrahlung photons,[1,2] produced by the interaction of electrons with a high Z converter, have a unique continuous energy spectrum that can be "tuned" to some extent by electron beam energy and converter geometry. Beam energies of a few tens of MeV can produce photons that couple strongly with the giant dipole resonance region in nuclei to produce particle emission and neutron production and transmutation reactions. As a result, mixed fields (photons and neutrons) are produced in which neutron to photon ratios and their energy distributions may be varied by electron beam energy and converter design.

Results

Conclusion