1. The BLAIRR Irradiation Facility Hybrid Spallation Target Optimization
Brookhaven Linear Accelerator IRRadiation Test Facility
N. Simos, A. Hanson, D. Brown, M. Elbakhshwan
Department of Nuclear Science and Technology,
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Upton, NY 11973
Presented at the 6th High Power Targetry Workshop
Oxford, England April 11-15, 2016

2. Brookhaven Linear Accelerator IRRadiation Test Facility (BLAIRR)
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

3. BLAIRR April 12, 2016

4. BLAIRR STUDY STATUS OVERVIEW
Beamline Complex Evaluation/Assessment and Adaptation to the Goals
Facility Radiological Constraints – Large scale analyses of conventional facility and integrated shield (concrete, soil)
Target Optimization and Design:
Beam-target interaction optimization
Hadronic interaction and energy deposition limitations
Single phase and Hybrid target concepts
Irradiation Damage
Thermo-mechanical considerations
Spallation neutron fluence optimization for
(a) fast neutron irradiation damage
(b) moderator/reflector studies,
(c) NTOF potential and optimization
(d) mono-energetic neutron beam
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

5. BLAIRR and the Beamline Complex
NToF lines
Transfer Line
Target Station -1
Simos_BLAIRR_ADS_July17_2014

6. Phase I
It is proposed to develop the BLAIRR facility in stages over time.
Phase I is to reconstruct beam lines from the 200 MeV linac
BLAIRR – April 12, 2016

7. Modular Design of BLAIRR:
Radiation damage samples and spallation sources are encapsulated in individual cans
Be multiplier
Can be removed
Design to modify radiation type and spectra as needed
Easy to change targets
Easy to change neutron spallation targets
Targets along beam path
Those within the proton range are predominately damaged by protons
Those beyond the proton range are damage equally by protons and neutrons
Targets perpendicular to beam path
Damage primarily by neutrons
n TOF measurements
Can use neutrons from spallation source
Can measure neutrons from charged particle interactions
BLAIRR – April 12, 2016

8. BLIP Modular Target Stack
BLAIRR would utilize modular stacks similar to BLIP
Each target or neutron generator is sealed in a can compatible with the target material
Allows for forced coolant flow between the cans
The stack can be longer than the stopping length of the protons
Other stacks can be inserted outside the beam

9. First Calculations of Spallation
Base Case:
200 MeV protons
Tungsten neutron spallation source
Molybdenum targets
Water Cooled
Be multiplier
42 cm diameter
17 cm long
Similar to BLIP target stack
Alternate layers of neutron spallation materials with targets and water
BLAIRR – April 12, 2016

10. Base Case Model: Blue – Water Yellow – Beryllium Green – Tungsten
Red - Molybdenum
Beam Direction
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

11. Base Case Model: Blue – Water Yellow – Beryllium Green – Tungsten
Red - Molybdenum
Neutron Detectors
Beam Direction
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

12. Results of Base Case
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

13. Modifications to the Base Case
Reduce beryllium multiplier to 32 cm diameter, 13 cm long
Remove beryllium multiplier
Instead of tungsten other High-Z neutron spallation materials:
Tantalum
Thorium
Depleted Uranium
Thicknesses of materials were selected for the protons to have a total range of 5 layers of neutron generators
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

14. Damage Along the Proton Path
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

15. Damage Perpendicular to the Beam Path
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

16. Comparison of Different Neutron Generators wrt Base Case
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

17. Neutrons Crossing Surfaces of Detectors
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

18. Neutron Spectra at Detectors: W and U
BLAIRR April 12, 2016

19. Phase II – Ions Other Than Protons: Energies Other than 200 MeV
A Transfer Line was Built in the 1980’s to bring Heavy Ions from the MP Tandem van de Graaff accelerator to the AGS Booster
Extend the transfer line to the BLAIRR Facility
Build a Transfer Line from the Booster to BLAIRR
Add Booster Extraction
Can run both beam lines simultaneously with different ions
BLAIRR – April 12, 2016

20. Ions Available from the Tandem van de Graaff
BLAIRR – April 12, 2016

21. Ions Available from the Booster – For Bulk Damage
Ion Species [1]
Energy [2] (MeV/nucleon)
Maximum Intensity [3] (ions per spill)
LET [4] (keV/micron) in water
H-1
2.2 x 1011
He-4
0.88 x 1010
C-12
1.2 x 1010
O-16
0.4 x 1010
Ne-20
0.10 x 1010
Si-28
0.3 x 1010
Cl-35
0.2 x 1010
Ar-40
350
0.02 x 1010
105.8
Ti-48
0.08 x 1010
Fe-56
Kr-84
383
2.0 x 107
403
Xe-131
228
5.0 x 107
1204
Ta-181
3.0 x 108
Au-197
1 x 108
Sequential Field (Fe/H)
1000
Various
150/0.2
Solar Particle Event [5]
BLAIRR – April 12, 2016

22. Facility Radiation Protection Consideration and Infrastructure Upgrade
Developed models have been BENCHMARKED against field measurements with exceptional results (BLIP LHC target activation and decay, Tandem Experiment)
Based on the success of these models to predict radiation effects, FULL scale numerical schemes have been developed specifically for BLAIRR studying the radiological IMPACT on the existing facility and the need for infrastructure upgrade

23. Conclusions and Future Work
We have initiated an preliminary design for the BLAIRR target array that would allow us to study radiation damage with protons, neutrons, and a combination of protons and neutrons
Design is modular and samples can be placed in the proton beam path, beyond the range of the protons and perpendicular to the proton beam
First estimates of radiation damage have been calculated and are presented
Several different neutron generating materials have been considered and compared
We have not yet studied the neutron spectra in the different regions of the target
It is expected that the neutron spectra can be modified with the presence or lack of the Beryllium
BLAIRR – April 12, 2016