High-Flux Neutron Source on the Basis of a Cascade Booster

Abstract

A physical model of a high-flux neutron source based on a deep subcritical (k_eff = 0.96) two-stage booster driven by a proton accelerator with the energy of 600 MeV and beam power of 0.3 MW is proposed. It is shown that the thermal neutron flux density will be comparable to the flux density at the European Spallation Source (ESS) with the proton beam power of 5 MW. Owing to a shorter pulse, neutron diffraction experiments at the proposed source will be almost an order of magnitude more efficient than at the ESS.