ARGITU compact accelerator neutron source: A unique infrastructure fostering R&amp;D ecosystem in Euskadi

This work reports on preliminary calculations of potential low-dimensional moderators for the high-current accelerator-driven neutron source (HiCANS) ARGITU. Simulations start with the selection of materials, depending on the neutron energy range to be used for each instrument. Results evaluate the performance of water for thermal moderators to deliver neutrons for thermal instruments, whereas para-H2 and solid methane have been analyzed to deliver cold neutrons. Additionally, alternative concepts like using hybrid moderators (water/liquid methane) or reduced-size cold moderators (reduced-size para-H2) have been scrutinized for their use in bispectral instruments that require a wide range of intermediate neutron energies. The dimensions of the moderators have been refined to improve the neutron yield for the neutron wavelength range selected in each case. After that, a space-efficient layout has been proposed to implement four moderators next to the Be target, linked to a preliminary suite of instruments that these moderators would serve. Although the eventual selection shall consider both the final instrument suite and the phase space volume required for such neutron instruments (that defines their neutron optics features), the results presented here represent a qualitative step towards the conceptual development of the ARGITU neutron source.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a conceptual design for the moderators of ARGITU: A preliminary neutronics study

del Moral,

Magán,

Sordo

et al. 2023

“…This interest was motivated by the previous experience in compact accelerator-driven neutron sources [1,2]. Several projects in numerous laboratories around Europe [3][4][5][6] are currently at different stages of their development and are merged within the European Low Energy accelerator-based Neutron facilities Association (ELENA) [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The HERMES reflectometer at the JULIC Neutron Platform

Paulin,

Pechenizkiy,

Zakalek

et al. 2023

HERMES is a time-of-flight reflectometer that operated at the Orphée reactor until 2019. In 2022, HERMES was installed at the JULIC (Jülich Light Ion Cyclotron) Neutron Platform as part of a collaboration between the Laboratoire Léon Brillouin and the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science. The main goal of the current setup is to probe the viability of neutron instrumentation at a High Current Compact Accelerator-driven Neutron Source (HiCANS). As the flux at the JULIC neutron platform is several orders of magnitude lower than the original Orphée flux or the expected flux for a HiCANS, our current objective is to perform reflectivity experiments with supermirrors as a proof of concept. Nevertheless, Monte-Carlo simulations showed that the HERMES instrument’s performance at a HiCANS such as HBS or ICONE could match that of reflectometry instruments operating at research reactors or spallation sources. An experiment with a supermirror carried out in December 2022 allowed us to preliminary prove the feasibility of this kind of experiments at an accelerator-driven neutron source.

“…High current acceleratordriven neutron sources (HiCANS), are cost-effective to construct and to operate. At current there are mainly three HiCANS projects which are the High Brilliance Neutron Source (HBS) project [1] located in Jülich, the ICONE project developed by Université Paris Saclay [2] and the ARGITU project [3] located in Basque Country area (Spain). These developments can counteract the loss of existing fission-based neutron sources and a resulting decline in available neutron beam days as well as establishing HiCANS as a next generation neutron source.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal moderator-reflector design of the 24 Hz target station for the High Brilliance Neutron Source

Chen,

Rücker,

Voigt

et al. 2023

The High Brilliance Neutron Source (HBS) project develops a high current accelerator driven neutron source (HiCANS), aiming to substitute existing neutron research reactors, that reach the end of life. This study focuses on the thermal neutron moderator design for a low frequency, long pulse target station of HBS. We investigate the neutronic characteristics of the D2O+H2O mixture moderator material using the Monte Carlo particle transport code PHITS. Our findings show that, compared to D2O with lower neutron absorption, confinement of H2O is the dominant factor in achieving a high neutron flux within the moderator and thus a high neutron brightness. We find that surrounding the central thermal water moderator with a D2O+H2O mixture can achieve a better balance between confinement and absorption. However, because of multiple angles of reflecting neutron, this design will also increase the divergence of the neutron beam.