SINQ: status report Oct. 1990

After a lengthy period of 'digging-work' which started on 8-8-88 to build the 11 m deep proton transport tunnel, most of the concrete work is now complete and the steel structure for the target and neutron guide halls has been erected. Design work on the target- and supplies system is progressing well and a basis for the safety analysis report has been established. Besides investigations towards protection against air-plane crash and earthquake this also includes research to determine the retention factor of lead-bismuth for polonium and mercury. Studies on the lead bismuth thermal hydraulics and on the D2-cold moderator system have so far confirmed our expectations and are still in progress. Also in progress is an irradiation endurance test on the target window material at Los Alamos. In addition to intensive development work on the liquid metal target, research on a lead pebble bed target has been initiated. (author)