Simulation of e– γ– n targets by FLUKA and measurement of neutron flux at various angles for accelerator based neutron source

Abstract

A 6 MeV Race track Microtron (an electron accelerator) based pulsed neutron source has been designed specifically for the elemental analysis of short lived activation products where the low neutron flux requirement is desirable. The bremsstrahlung radiation emitted by impinging 6 MeV electron on the e– γ primary target, was made to fall on the γ– n secondary target to produce neutrons. The optimisation of bremsstrahlung and neutron producing target along with their spectra were estimated using FLUKA code. The measurement of neutron flux was carried out by activation of vanadium and the measured fluxes were 1.1878 × 10 5, 0.9403 × 10 5, 0.7428 × 10 5, 0.6274 × 10 5, 0.5659 × 10 5, 0.5210 × 10 5 n/cm 2/s at 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 115°, 140° respectively. The results indicate that the neutron flux was found to be decreased as increase in the angle and in good agreement with the FLUKA simulation.