Schemes for producing multi-energy fast neutrons using a low-energy ion accelerator

Abstract

In this article we explore neutron producing schemes using a compact accelerator for producing fast neutrons for nuclear data measurements relevant to GEN-IV reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems and also for other applications such as radioisotopes production. The compact accelerator which consists of an Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source along with a Radio Frequency Quadrupole and Drift Tube Linac is expected to provide p,d and 7Li beams of energies in the range of 0.5–3 MeV/u. Two different neutron producing schemes are examined for their suitability for the above mentioned applications. In the first scheme, using the 7Li(d,n)2 4He reaction, a variety of neutron energies ranging from 1 MeV to 16 MeV with reasonable flux and energy-time characteristics can be generated making it suitable for studies in (n,cp), (n,f) and (n,Xn) reactions important for nuclear fusion technology, security applications and radioisotope production. In the second scheme, the p(7Li,n)7Be reaction can be used to produce quasi mono-energetic neutrons in inverse kinematics mode with very little background making it suitable for high precision nuclear data measurements relevant to GEN-IV reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems.