In the realm of energy and nuclear research, a team of scientists from the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) at Saclay have been making strides in developing a new type of neutron source. This group, led by L. Thulliez and including researchers such as N. Berton, R. Boudouin, and many others, has been working on a project that could potentially fill a gap in Europe’s neutron source capabilities.
The researchers have developed a High-Current Accelerator-driven Neutron Source (HiCANS) using the IPHI accelerator and a liquid lithium target named SATELIT. The IPHI accelerator delivers a 3 MeV proton beam with a current of up to 100 mA. In a recent experimental campaign conducted in 2024-2025, the team directed a 10 kW proton beam at the liquid lithium target for nearly 100 hours to generate neutrons. This process, known as the 7Li(p,n)7Be nuclear reaction, resulted in the accumulation of a total deposited beam power of 840 kW.h, with two continuous operational days exceeding 11 hours each.
The team used a polyethylene moderator coupled with SATELIT to extract a thermal neutron beam. The neutron flux measured at 1.4 meters from the extraction point exceeded 10^6 n.cm^-2.s^-1, which is sufficient for numerous neutron applications. This achievement demonstrates the potential of HiCANS to play a significant role in the future of medium-scale neutron sources in Europe, especially as many research nuclear reactors have been decommissioned in recent years.
However, the long-term operation of this facility faces challenges, particularly in mitigating the radiological concerns associated with the accumulation of 7Be within the system. The researchers are now focusing on developing strategies to address this issue. This work was published in the journal Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment.
For the energy sector, this research could have practical applications in areas such as neutron radiography, neutron scattering for materials research, and potentially even in the development of new nuclear energy technologies. Neutron sources are crucial for various industrial applications, including non-destructive testing, material analysis, and nuclear medicine. The development of medium-scale neutron sources like HiCANS could help fill the gap left by decommissioned research reactors and support a wide range of scientific and industrial activities.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.