A concept for a high-flux spallation neutron source as a radiation damage test facility

Abstract A high-flux neutron generator is proposed conceptually. Its spallation target facility is designed to accept a proton beam with parameters close to those of the LAMPF linear accelerator at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (0.8 GeV and 1.6 mA). Fluxes of 1.5 to 2.5×10 15 ns −1 cm −2 are formed in the target facility by a scanning proton beam. This facility is proposed to test the feasibility of the spallation target, especially the target window and coolant circulation, as well as to study other materials under high radiation. Alternatives based on the liquid lead and gas-cooled tungsten particles are compared. In the proposed target, spallation neutrons provide 2–3 times higher rates of radiation damage than fast reactor neutrons due to their harder spectrum. This generator is considered as an integral test facility in the framework of studies for accelerator driven transmutation technologies.