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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

H{sup -} radio frequency source development at the Spallation Neutron Source

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) now routinely operates nearly 1 MW of beam power on target with a highly persistent {approx}38 mA peak current in the linac and an availability of {approx}90%. H{sup -} beam pulses ({approx}1 ms, 60 Hz) are produced by a Cs-enhanced, multicusp ion source closely coupled with an electrostatic low energy beam transport (LEBT), which focuses the 65 kV beam into a radio frequency quadrupole accelerator. The source plasma is generated by RF excitation (2 MHz, {approx}60 kW) of a copper antenna that has been encased with a thickness of {approx}0.7 mm of porcelain enamel and immersed into the plasma chamber. The ion source and LEBT normally have a combined availability of {approx}99%. Recent increases in duty-factor and RF power have made antenna failures a leading cause of downtime. This report first identifies the physical mechanism of antenna failure from a statistical inspection of {approx}75 antennas which ran at the SNS, scanning electron microscopy studies of antenna surface, and cross sectional cuts and analysis of calorimetric heating measurements. Failure mitigation efforts are then described which include modifying the antenna geometry and our acceptance/installation criteria. Progress and status of the development of the SNS external antenna source, a long-term solution to the internal antenna problem, are then discussed. Currently, this source is capable of delivering comparable beam currents to the baseline source to the SNS and, an earlier version, has briefly demonstrated unanalyzed currents up to {approx}100 mA (1 ms, 60 Hz) on the test stand. In particular, this paper discusses plasma ignition (dc and RF plasma guns), antenna reliability, magnet overheating, and insufficient beam persistence.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Low-energy beam transport studies supporting the spallation neutron source 1-MW beam operation

The H{sup -} injector consisting of a cesium enhanced RF-driven ion source and a 2-lens electrostatic low-energy beam transport (LEBT) system supports the spallation neutron source 1 MW beam operation with {approx}38 mA beam current in the linac at 60 Hz with a pulse length of up to {approx}1.0 ms. In this work, two important issues associated with the low-energy beam transport are discussed: (1) inconsistent dependence of the post-radio frequency quadrupole accelerator beam current on the ion source tilt angle and (2) high power beam losses on the LEBT electrodes under some off-nominal conditions compromising their reliability.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Producing persistent, high-current, high-duty-factor H{sup -} beams for routine 1 MW operation of Spallation Neutron Source (invited)

Since 2009, the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) has been producing neutrons with ion beam powers near 1 MW, which requires the extraction of {approx}50 mA H{sup -} ions from the ion source with a {approx}5% duty factor. The 50 mA are achieved after an initial dose of {approx}3 mg of Cs and heating the Cs collar to {approx}170 deg. C. The 50 mA normally persist for the entire 4-week source service cycles. Fundamental processes are reviewed to elucidate the persistence of the SNS H{sup -} beams without a steady feed of Cs and why the Cs collar temperature may have to be kept near 170 deg. C.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Performance of the Los Alamos National Laboratory spallation-driven solid-deuterium ultra-cold neutron source

In this paper, we describe the performance of the Los Alamos spallation-driven solid-deuterium ultra-cold neutron (UCN) source. Measurements of the cold neutron flux, the very low energy neutron production rate, and the UCN rates and density at the exit from the biological shield are presented and compared to Monte Carlo predictions. The cold neutron rates compare well with predictions from the Monte Carlo code MCNPX and the UCN rates agree with our custom UCN Monte Carlo code. The source is shown to perform as modeled. The maximum delivered UCN density at the exit from the biological shield is 52(9) UCN/cc with a solid deuterium volume of {approx}1500 cm{sup 3}.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Simulation of a suite of generic long-pulse neutron instruments to optimize the time structure of the European Spallation Source

We here describe the result of simulations of 15 generic neutron instruments for the long-pulsed European Spallation Source. All instruments have been simulated for 20 different settings of the source time structure, corresponding to pulse lengths between 1 ms and 2 ms; and repetition frequencies between 10 Hz and 25 Hz. The relative change in performance with time structure is given for each instrument, and an unweighted average is calculated. The performance of the instrument suite is proportional to (a) the peak flux and (b) the duty cycle to a power of approximately 0.3. This information is an important input to determining the best accelerator parameters. In addition, we find that in our simple guide systems, most neutrons reaching the sample originate from the central 3-5 cm of the moderator. This result can be used as an input in later optimization of the moderator design. We discuss the relevance and validity of defining a single figure-of-merit for a full facility and compare with evaluations of the individual instrument classes.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Spallation process with simultaneous multi-particle emission in nuclear evaporation

High energy probes have been used currently to explore nuclear reaction mechanism and nuclear structure. The spallation process governs the reaction process around 1 GeV energy regime. A new aspect introduced here to describe the nuclear reaction is the in-medium nucleonnucleon collision framework. The nucleon-nucleon scattering is kinematically treated by using an effective mass to represent the nuclear binding. In respect to the evaporation phase of the reaction, we introduce the simultaneous particles emission decay. This process becomes important due to the rise of new channels at high excitation energy regime of the compound nucleus. As results, the particles yields in the rapid and evaporation phases are obtained and compared to experimental data. The effect and relevance of these simultaneous emission processes in the evaporation chain is also discussed.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Improved design of proton source and low energy beam transport line for European Spallation Source

The design update of the European Spallation Source (ESS) accelerator is almost complete and the construction of the prototype of the microwave discharge ion source able to provide a proton beam current larger than 70 mA to the 3.6 MeV Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) started. The source named PS-ESS (Proton Source for ESS) was designed with a flexible magnetic system and an extraction system able to merge conservative solutions with significant advances. The ESS injector has taken advantage of recent theoretical updates and new plasma diagnostics tools developed at INFN-LNS (Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare). The design strategy considers the PS-ESS and the low energy beam transport line as a whole, where the proton beam behaves like an almost neutralized non-thermalized plasma. Innovative solutions have been used as hereinafter described. Thermo-mechanical optimization has been performed to withstand the chopped beam and the misaligned focused beam over the RFQ input collimator; the results are reported here.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

CENTAUR - The small- and wide-angle neutron scattering diffractometer/spectrometer for the Second Target Station of the Spallation Neutron Source

CENTAUR has been selected as one of the eight initial instruments to be built at the Second Target Station (STS) of the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It is a small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and wide-angle neutron scattering (WANS) instrument with diffraction and spectroscopic capabilities. This instrument will maximally leverage the high brightness of the STS source, the state-of-the-art neutron optics, and a suite of detectors to deliver unprecedented capabilities that enable measurements over a wide range of length scales with excellent resolution, measurements on smaller samples, and time-resolved investigations of evolving structures. Notably, the simultaneous WANS and diffraction capability will be unique among neutron scattering instruments in the United States. This instrument will provide much needed capabilities for soft matter and polymer sciences, geology, biology, quantum condensed matter, and other materials sciences that need in situ and operando experiments for kinetic and/or out-of-equilibrium studies. Beam polarization and a high-resolution chopper will enable detailed structural and dynamical investigations of magnetic and quantum materials. CENTAUR’s excellent resolution makes it ideal for low-angle diffraction studies of highly ordered large-scale structures, such as skyrmions, shear-induced ordering in colloids, and biomembranes. Additionally, the spectroscopic mode of this instrument extends to lower momentum transfers than are currently possible with existing spectrometers, thereby providing a unique capability for inelastic SANS studies.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

SEEMS: A Single Event Effects and Muon Spectroscopy facility at the Spallation Neutron Source

This study outlines a concept that would leverage the existing proton accelerator at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) of Oak Ridge National Laboratory to enable transformative science via one world-class facility serving two missions: Single Event Effects (SEE) and Muon Spectroscopy (μSR). The μSR portion would deliver the world’s highest flux and highest resolution pulsed muon beams for material characterization purposes, with precision and capabilities well beyond comparable facilities. The SEE capabilities deliver neutron, proton, and muon beams for aerospace industries that are facing an impending challenge to certify equipment for safe and reliable behavior under bombardment from atmospheric radiation originating from cosmic and solar rays. With negligible impact on the primary neutron scattering mission of the SNS, the proposed facility will have enormous benefits for both science and industry. Herein, we have designated this facility “SEEMS.”

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2013

Deformation dynamics and spallation strength of aluminium under a single-pulse action of a femtosecond laser

An interferometric method is developed and realised using a frequency-modulated pulse for diagnosing a dynamics of fast deformations with a spatial and temporal resolution under the action of a single laser pulse. The dynamics of a free surface of a submicron-thick aluminium film is studied under an action of the ultrashort compression pulse with the amplitude of up to 14 GPa, excited by a femtosecond laser heating of the target surface layer. The spallation strength of aluminium was determined at a record high deformation rate of 3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 9} s{sup -1}. (extreme light fields and their applications)

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

New high-sensitivity searches for neutrons converting into antineutrons and/or sterile neutrons at the HIBEAM/NNBAR experiment at the European Spallation Source

The violation of baryon number, , is an essential ingredient for the preferential creation of matter over antimatter needed to account for the observed baryon asymmetry in the Universe. However, such a process has yet to be experimentally observed. The HIBEAM/NNBAR program is a proposed two-stage experiment at the European Spallation Source to search for baryon number violation. The program will include high-sensitivity searches for processes that violate baryon number by one or two units: free neutron–antineutron oscillation () via mixing, neutron–antineutron oscillation via regeneration from a sterile neutron state (), and neutron disappearance (n → n′); the effective process of neutron regeneration () is also possible. The program can be used to discover and characterize mixing in the neutron, antineutron and sterile neutron sectors. The experiment addresses topical open questions such as the origins of baryogenesis and the nature of dark matter, and is sensitive to scales of new physics substantially in excess of those available at colliders. A goal of the program is to open a discovery window to neutron conversion probabilities (sensitivities) by up to three orders of magnitude compared with previous searches. The opportunity to make such a leap in sensitivity tests should not be squandered. The experiment pulls together a diverse international team of physicists from the particle (collider and low energy) and nuclear physics communities, while also including specialists in neutronics and magnetics.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

The Macromolecular Neutron Diffractometer MaNDi at the Spallation Neutron Source

The Macromolecular Neutron Diffractometer (MaNDi) is located on beamline 11B of the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Moreover, the instrument is a neutron time-of-flight wavelength-resolved Laue diffractometer optimized to collect diffraction data from single crystals. Finally, the instrument has been designed to provide flexibility in several instrumental parameters, such as beam divergence and wavelength bandwidth, to allow data collection from a range of macromolecular systems.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Spallation neutron source GNEIS

A brief description of the spallation pulsed neutron source and neutron TOF spectrometer GNEIS based on the 1 GeV proton synchrocyclotron of PNPI in Gatchina is presented. The main parameters of the GNEIS are given in comparison with the analogous world-class facilities. The experimental capabilities of the GNEIS are demonstrated by the examples of some nuclear physics and applied research experiments carried out during four decades of its operation.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fundamental Neutron Physics at Spallation Sources

Low-energy neutrons have been a useful probe in fundamental physics studies for more than 70 years. With advances in accelerator technology, many new sources are spallation based. These new, high-flux facilities are becoming the sites for many next-generation fundamental neutron physics experiments. In this review, we present an overview of the sources and the current and upcoming fundamental neutron physics programs.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

The COHERENT Experiment at the Spallation Neutron Source

The COHERENT collaboration's primary objective is to measure coherent elastic neutrino- nucleus scattering (CEvNS) using the unique, high-quality source of tens-of-MeV neutrinos provided by the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). In spite of its large cross section, the CEvNS process has never been observed, due to tiny energies of the resulting nuclear recoils which are out of reach for standard neutrino detectors. The measurement of CEvNS has now become feasible, thanks to the development of ultra-sensitive technology for rare decay and weakly-interacting massive particle (dark matter) searches. The CEvNS cross section is cleanly predicted in the standard model; hence its measurement provides a standard model test. It is relevant for supernova physics and supernova-neutrino detection, and enables validation of dark-matter detector background and detector-response models. In the long term, precision measurement of CEvNS will address questions of nuclear structure. COHERENT will deploy multiple detector technologies in a phased approach: a 14-kg CsI[Na] scintillating crystal, 15 kg of p-type point-contact germanium detectors, and 100 kg of liquid xenon in a two-phase time projection chamber. Following an extensive background measurement campaign, a location in the SNS basement has proven to be neutron-quiet and suitable for deployment of the COHERENT detector suite. The simultaneous deployment of the three COHERENT detector subsystems will test the N=2 dependence of the cross section and ensure an unambiguous discovery of CEvNS. This document describes concisely the COHERENT physics motivations, sensitivity and plans for measurements at the SNS to be accomplished on a four-year timescale.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Spallation Neutron Source Second Target Station Integrated Systems Update

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) was designed from the beginning to accommodate both an accelerator upgrade to increase the proton power and a second target station (STS). Four workshops were organized in 2013 and 2014 to identify key science areas and challenges where neutrons will play a vital role [1-4]. Participants concluded that the addition of STS to the existing ORNL neutron sources was needed to complement the strengths of High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) and the SNS first target station (FTS). To address the capability gaps identified in the workshops, a study was undertaken to identify instrument concepts that could provide the required new science capabilities. The study outlined 22 instrument concepts and presented an initial science case for STS [5]. These instrument concepts formed the basis of a planning suite of instruments whose requirements determined an initial site layout and moderator selection. An STS Technical Design Report (TDR) documented the STS concept based on those choices [6]. Since issue of the TDR, the STS concept has significantly matured as described in this document.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Nuclear Data for Spallation Neutron Radioisotope Production (Final Technical Report)

Over 50 million nuclear medicine procedures are performed annually, leading to a multi-billion dollar market for radioisotope production. The demand for new medical and research isotopes is growing, and radioisotope supply is insufficient. Most radioisotope production today utilizes charged particle or low-energy neutron irradiation of a target. Isotope production with tens to hundred MeV incident energies is a relatively unexplored option. There is a tremendous opportunity associated with a growing number of suitable domestic and international facilities buttressed by hundred million dollar global investments (e.g., the Los Alamos and Brookhaven Isotope Production Facilities, the European Spallation Source in Lund, and the Korean Multi-purpose Accelerator Complex in Gyeongbuk). In part due to a lack of supporting nuclear data that would make modeling radioisotope yields and purities possible, these facilities do not utilize their high-energy neutron fluxes for isotope production. This project attempted to measure neutron reaction excitation functions relevant to the large-scale production of critical radioisotopes, enabling development of cost-efficient isotope production methods, contributing to the improvement of theoretical models, and enhancing the value of national isotope production facilities. Reactions which form 67 Cu, 32 Si, and alpha-emitting isotopes like 225 Ac were chosen for their consistent prioritization by expert panels, representation of diverse reaction mechanisms, and relative lack of supporting nuclear data. Accurate measurement of these data is presently made only using quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams, which are produced by bombarding thin lithium targets with protons at only a few laboratories in the world. Ultimately, the projects efforts were incompletely accomplished due to a combination of multi-year technical issues at the only laboratory in the world which can make the proposed measurements, iThemba Labs in South Africa, and the onset of a global pandemic, which precluded the significant effort and time required to develop an independent measurement capability in the United States.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗