Fast neutron sources for materials testing and nuclear-physical studies

Analyzed are the possibilities of high-intensity neutron sources and considered perspectives of their application for studies in material testing according to the program of thermonuclear reactors. Potentialities of nuclear reactors, thermonuclear neutron sources and high-current deuteron linear and ring accelerators are considered. It is shown that existing nuclear reactors with high fluxes of both thermal and fast neutrons are at present the only devices providing irradiation of a great number of samples to neutron doses at which a marked change in the bulk properties of structural materials of reactors is observed. As an example of a source of thermonuclear neutrons the RTNS set-up (Livermoor Laboratory) is described which consists of a solid titanium-tritium target bombarded by a beam of deuterons with an energy of 400 keV. The source intensity is 6x1012 neutron/s. A program of development of the JPNS pulse neutron source of the Argon Laboratory is given, in which the yield of fast neutrons is based on the spallation reaction. By 1983 it is planned to obtain in the JPNS mean fluxes of fast neutrons with an intensity of 3x1014 neutron/cm2xs (the peak flux is 1016 neutron/cm2xs)