Liquid Metal Targets for High Power Electron Beams
High power electron beams have numerous applications including x-ray sterilization, active interrogation, radiography, and isotope production. Most of these uses rely on a target acting as a bremsstrahlung converter to produce a high energy, high flux x-ray beam. An electron beam target can also be optimized for positron production, as the x-rays produce positron-electron pairs. Conventional x-ray and positron converters are made of solid, high Z metals which cannot absorb more than a few kilowatts of beam power without complicated cooling systems. Alternatively, a liquid metal target can dissipate large quantities of heat as the liquid flows through the target region, thus lessening concerns of thermal damage to the converter. During Phases I and II, significant progress was made towards the overall goal of a liquid metal target for high power beams. Phase I results of the target led to the choice of lead bismuth eutectic (LBE) as a converter and coolant medium which is resistant to radiation and thermal damage. Phase II built and tested an LBE positron production target demonstrating the production of positrons. The system is designed for a 10 kW, 10 MeV electron beam, which should produce a 20 nA positron current at the collection target. Niowave is currently pursuing partners to continue a positron development program based on this prototype, and to continue the development of liquid-metal targets beyond 10 kW for commercial purposes such as x-ray sterilization and the production of medical and industrial radioisotopes.
- Research Organization:
- Niowave, Inc., Lansing, MI
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
- Contributing Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0011236
- OSTI ID:
- 1416955
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase II)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-NIOW-11236-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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