Preliminary design studies for an iridium rod target at the BNL-AGS

The BNL-AGS is an intense source of 24 GeV protons. It is proposed to explore the potential to use these protons as the driver for a Pulsed Spallation Neutron Source target. The proposed target design is based on an edge cooled iridium rod concept--similar to the anti-proton production target which operated reliably at CERN under similar conditions. Lead, lead fluoride, and beryllium are investigated as possible reflector materials, and ambient temperature light water and 80 K light water ice are proposed as initial moderator materials. Both moderators are decoupled by cadmium containing moderator chamber walls. The small size of the target has the advantage that the moderators can be placed close to the target (resulting in a bright source), and since a large fraction of the radioactive inventory is contained in the iridium rod, removal and disposition of this inventory should be relatively simple and inexpensive