ESS-Bilbao light-ion linear accelerator and neutron source: design and applications

Basic concept for an accelerator-driven subcritical system to be used as a long-pulse neutron source for Condensed Matter research

“…[10], where is stated that 600 MeV comes to be the lowest practical proton energy, account made of the optimal power deposition density in the spallation target. As a reference, it can either be taken as similar to the accelerator designed for the MYRRHA project [29], duly adapted for operation in pulsed mode, or some other high-current pulsed proton accelerators being nowadays under development [30]. In short, such an accelerator can be though of as consisting in a proton injector composed by a proton source plus accelerating structures such as radiofrequency-quadrupole and a drift-tube-linac, which drive the beam up to 50 MeV, followed by a fully modular superconducting linac to accelerate the beam up to the sought energy.…”