High-flux neutron source based on a liquid-lithium target

Journal Article · Fri Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4802381· OSTI ID:22117002

Halfon, S. ^[1]; Feinberg, G. ^[1]; Paul, M. ^[2]; Arenshtam, A.; Berkovits, D.; Kijel, D.; Nagler, A.; Eliyahu, I.; Silverman, I. ^[3]

---

1. Soreq NRC, Yavne, 81800 (Israel) and Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 91904 (Israel)
2. Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 91904 (Israel)
3. Soreq NRC, Yavne, 81800 (Israel)

A prototype compact Liquid Lithium Target (LiLiT), able to constitute an accelerator-based intense neutron source, was built. The neutron source is intended for nuclear astrophysical research, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) in hospitals and material studies for fusion reactors. The LiLiT setup is presently being commissioned at Soreq Nuclear research Center (SNRC). The lithium target will produce neutrons through the {sup 7}Li(p,n){sup 7}Be reaction and it will overcome the major problem of removing the thermal power generated by a high-intensity proton beam, necessary for intense neutron flux for the above applications. The liquid-lithium loop of LiLiT is designed to generate a stable lithium jet at high velocity on a concave supporting wall with free surface toward the incident proton beam (up to 10 kW). During off-line tests, liquid lithium was flown through the loop and generated a stable jet at velocity higher than 5 m/s on the concave supporting wall. The target is now under extensive test program using a high-power electron-gun. Up to 2 kW electron beam was applied on the lithium flow at velocity of 4 m/s without any flow instabilities or excessive evaporation. High-intensity proton beam irradiation will take place at SARAF (Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility) superconducting linear accelerator currently in commissioning at SNRC.

• OSTI ID: 22117002
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1525, Issue 1; Conference: 22. international conference on application of accelerators in research and industry, Ft. Worth, TX (United States), 5-10 Aug 2012; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ACCELERATOR FACILITIES
BEAM PRODUCTION
BERYLLIUM 7
COMMISSIONING
COMPACTS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON GUNS
IRRADIATION
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
LIQUIDS
LITHIUM
LITHIUM 7 TARGET
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON SOURCES
NEUTRONS
PROTON BEAMS
PROTON REACTIONS
SOREQ NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTER