Neptunium-Based High-Flux Pulsed Research Reactor

Abstract

The design principles and parameters of a promising neutron source, based on the fission reaction of the isotope ²³⁷Np, for use in research in extracted beams are presented. Such a source can operate as a pulsing reactor or super-booster or as a super-booster multiplying the neutrons from the target of a proton accelerator by using a reactivity modulator. Owing to the threshold character of ²³⁷Np fission such a neutron source will possess significantly higher characteristics than a similar setup with plutonium, and in terms of utilization efficiency it will be the leading source in the world for research employing neutron spectroscopy.