Gelina neutron target optimisation

Abstract

A study is being performed on the properties of the Geel Electron Linear Accelerator (GELINA), a powerful white neutron source, designed for the high-energy resolution time-of-flight measurements. The main aim of this study is to reduce the time spread of neutrons of the given energy without compromising the neutron yield. Both time spread and neutron intensity influence the experimental accuracy of high-resolution neutron cross section measurements, which are particularly important in the resonance region. The quantities of interest have been simulated with coupled electron-photon-neutron steady state and transient MCNP4C3 calculations. Following benchmarking of the code to the properties of the existing target, neutron yield, energy spectra, resolution functions, and neutron and heat spatial distributions have been determined for various alternative geometries and materials. At a fixed accelerator power, actinides deliver the highest neutron yield and a small target provides the best time resolution. The resulting high-power density requires a joint optimisation of the thermal hydraulics and neutronics properties.