Spallation neutron sources: Basics, state of the art, and options for future development

Abstract

The paper outlines the physics of the spallation reaction and the resulting rules of thumb with respect to neutron yield, heat deposition, and energy distribution. Technical problems and performance expectations are discussed on the basis of two high beam power spallation neutron source projects, namely, the German SNQ Project (not funded) and the Swiss SINQ Project (under construction). Since both of these projects were designed mainly for thermal neutron scattering application, emphasizing the production of a high flux of moderated neutrons, an alternative conceptual design is presented which, while still allowing the extraction of cold and thermal neutron beams, also offers the opportunity of placing samples into positions where the neutron spectrum has changed only very little due to transport in matter. The anisotropy of the high-energy neutron field can be taken advantage of to select, to some extent, how much of the high energy component will be seen by the specimens. No technical design concept exists so far for a spallation neutron source for fusion materials test purposes, and more detailed studies would be required to assess its value and usefulness. However, a source for combined use for different purposes seems to be feasible without too many compromises.