Simulation of target and moderator combinations for a compact accelerator-driven neutron source

Background

The production of neutrons by accelerators began in the 1970s with construction of powerful proton accelerators to access neutrons via spallation. At the same time, low-energy driven neutron processes emerged for neutron production using electron accelerators, ion beam accelerators, cyclotrons, and low energy linear accelerators. This wide variety of neutron sources have come to be referred to as Compact Accelerator-driven Neutron Sources (CANS). Due to research reactors within Europe undergoing shutdown, the European Spallation Source user program delayed until 2026 and other large-scale European facilities (ISIS, ILL and PSI) being heavily overbooked, there is currently a serious need for establishing additional neutron sources, especially in Scandinavia. It is believed that a CANS could fulfil this demand.

Project goal and work plan

The goal of the proposed project is to perform preliminary simulation-work that will support the development of a CANS within Sweden. This work will take the form of developing target simulations to constrain possible design parameters, such as target material, beam energy and beam current. The project can be divided into the following key tasks:

• develop a simple CANS-target/moderator design in a Monte Carlo simulation package;
• run simulations for different target materials, primary-ions and beam energies;
• evaluate neutron production in terms of energy and flux;
• evaluate target heating and target damage;
• evaluate gamma-ray production and shielding requirements;
• evaluate possible moderator designs and geometries;
• write a report summarising the results and conclusion of the work.

The position will be based at the Ångström laboratory in Uppsala, within the Ion-physics Group. This project provides an excellent opportunity to become acquainted with the broad range of research being conducted within the Ion-physics group, and to make a long-standing contribution to its operation.

The project can be adjusted to correspond to 15, 30 or 45 ECTS credits and can start during either the autumn 2023, or spring 2024 semesters.

Desired qualifications/experience

The applicant should be enrolled on a physics program at Uppsala University and possess:

• a strong interest in simulation;
• excellent skills in both written and spoken English.
• knowledge/training in Nuclear Physics will be advantageous.

Students seeking diploma-work projects at both Master and Bachelor level are encouraged to apply, as are students seeking project work for courses (but such projects must correspond to at least 15 credits). The possibility of paired or group work can be discussed.

For further information please contact:

Robert Frost rob.frost@physics.uu.se