Abstract
At the NPI in Rez, the p + Be source reaction was investigated for 30 MeV proton beam and thick beryllium target. For neutron field determination of the p(30)+Be source reaction in close source-to-sample distance, the multi-foil activation technique with a set of 10 activation materials (Au, Co, Lu, Ti, In, Al, Y, Fe, Ni, Nb) was utilized. From resulting reaction rates, the neutron spectrum was reconstructed using the SAND-II unfolding code. New neutron field of white spectrum up to 28 MeV has an intensity of 8.6 × 1010 cm−2s−1 close to target. The obtained neutron field extends the utilization of cyclotron-based fast neutron sources at the NPI and provides new experimental opportunities for future irradiation experiments such as fast neutron activation analysis, nuclear data validation, and radiation damage study of electronics and materials for nuclear energetics.
Highlights
Nowadays, many older research nuclear reactors have reached their end of life-cycle and are being gradually decommissioned
Accelerator-driven neutron sources are safe, small, and cheap solution. They can be used for isotope production, neutron activation analysis, material irradiation, subsurface exploration, nuclear data measurements, neutron imaging, silicon transmutation, and with suitable moderator for boron neutron capture therapy
Beryllium target is cooled on the back side by 5 mm thick layer of flowing alcohol; charged particle currents on target and collimators are monitored on-line
Summary
Many older research nuclear reactors have reached their end of life-cycle and are being gradually decommissioned. The useful replacement for them seems to be small compact accelerator-driven neutron sources. Accelerator-driven neutron sources are safe, small, and cheap solution. They can be used for isotope production, neutron activation analysis, material irradiation, subsurface exploration, nuclear data measurements, neutron imaging, silicon transmutation, and with suitable moderator for boron neutron capture therapy. Many compact neutron sources in the world are based on Be-targets. Station uses 8 mm thick beryllium target with a diameter of 50 mm. Beryllium target is cooled on the back side by 5 mm thick layer of flowing alcohol; charged particle currents on target and collimators are monitored on-line. The neutron source is standardly operated with 35 MeV proton beam which provides broad spectrum up to 33 MeV with fast neutron flux of 1010 cm−2s−1 [12]
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