The SPES project: a second generation ISOL facility

Abstract

SPES is an INFN project to develop a Radioactive Ion Beam facility as an intermediate step toward EURISOL, the next generation European ISOL facility. The facility will be installed at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro where the superconductive linac ALPI will reaccelerate the exotic beams at energies larger than 10 AMeV. Neutron-rich radioactive beams will be produced by proton-induced Uranium fission at an expected in-target fission rate of 1013 fissions per second. As proton driver, a 70 MeV cyclotron with a total current of 0.750 mA shared on two exit ports will be installed. The key feature of SPES is to provide high intensity and high-quality beams of neutron-rich nuclei to perform forefront research in nuclear physics as well as to develop and interdisciplinary research center based on the cyclotron proton beam. Neutron production at a rate of 1014 n/s is expected using the proton beam on thick target. The status of the project and the layout of the neutron facility will be presented. Two facilities can be operated at the same time, with a capability of 5000 h per year each. The ISOL facility will use 0.2 mA to reach the goal of 10 13 fissions per second and more than 0.5 mA will be available for applied physics applications, mainly neutron beam and medical isotopes production.