Development of a Pelletron-based compact neutron source

Issue title: UCANS IX Online Conference

Subtitle: At the Nuclear Applications Laboratory, Lund University

Guest editors: David Baxter, Thomas Gutberlet, Koichi Kino, Yoshiaki Kiyanagi, Hiroaki Kumada, Yoshi Otake, Masato Takamura and Xuewu Wang

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Frost, Robert J.W.^{a; *} | Elfman, Mikael^a | Fissum, Kevin^a | Kristensson, Markus^{a; b} | Kristiansson, Per^a | Mauritzson, Nicholai^a | Pallon, Jan^a | Perrey, Hanno^a | Pédehontaa-Hiaa, Guillaume^{a; c} | Sjöland, Anders^{a; d} | Stenström, Kristina E.^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden | [b] Integrated Control System Division, European Spallation Source, Lund, Sweden | [c] Medical Radiation Physics Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden | [d] Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB), Solna, Sweden

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: robert.frost@nuclear.lu.se.

Abstract: The Applied Nuclear Physics Group at Lund University is constructing a prototype CANS (Compact Accelerator-driven Neutron Source). The CANS is based around a 3 MV, single-ended, Pelletron accelerator, which is used to impinge a 2.8 MeV deuterium beam into a beryllium target. The anticipated neutron production will be on the order of 1010 n/s in 4π sr. A further upgrade to the ion source of the Pelletron is expected to increase neutron production to 1011 n/s. Neutron energies will be up to 9 MeV with peak emission at ∼5 MeV. Shielding and moderation will be provided by a large water tank surrounding the target, with three exit ports to allow neutrons of different energies to be directed to experiments. The design is supported by simulation results which predict fast-neutron fluxes of 9×104 to 5×106 n/cm2/s, and thermal-neutron fluxes of 1×104 to 5×104 n/cm2/s to be readily obtainable with a 10 µA deuteron beam.

Keywords: Compact neutron source, electrostatic accelerator, deuterium beam, beryllium target, moderator development

DOI: 10.3233/JNR-220026

Journal: Journal of Neutron Research, vol. 24, no. 3-4, pp. 281-287, 2022