Weapons Neutron Research Facility (WNRF) storage ring system: technical study

Abstract

The present engineering and theoretical design status of the Weapons Neutron Research Facility (WNRF) proton storage ring are described. It is the intent of this work to show that a practical set of concepts mow exists for construction of this very desirable device for the WNRF. This storage ring will store 800MeV protons from the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) to produce intense pulses for the subsequent generation of neutron pulses for direct weapon-mockup testing and studies related to the weapons program. Two basic modes of operation are planned to encompass the scope of experimental investigations. The first mode will consist of loading the ring to attain the greatest unbunched (dc) circulating current that can be contained (a goal for this operation is 100 A) and the release of this current in one pulse of approximately 200-nsec duration. This mode will be used for weapons-related studies that require very intense pulses. The second mode will consist of the accumulation of five 5-nsec-wide bunches of protons circulating in the storage ring, and the subsequent release of these bunches to form a pulse train at the rate of 600 pps on a continuous basis. This mode will be used for weapons- related measurements involving high resolution time-of-flight energy analysis of neutrons. Charge-exchange injection will be employed in both modes of operation because of the demonstrated brightness advantage over conventional synchrotron or betatron space stacking. (auth)