Multipurpose intense 14 MeV neutron source at Bratislava: Design study

The present state of design of the multipurpose intense 14 MeV neutron source based on a D+ ion beam and a metal tritide target is reported. It is essentially a 300 keV electrostatic air insulated accelerator capable to accelerate a deuterium ion beam up to 10 mA. With such a beam and a beam spot of 1 cm2, a neutron yield typically 1012 n/s and a useful target lifetime of around 10 h are expected. Various users requirements are met by means of three beam lines: an intense, low current dc and a low current fast pulsed. The key components of the intense source section are the rotating target and the ion source. The rotating target is proposed, with respect of the heat dissipation and the removal of 3 kW/cm2, in continuous operation. A rotation speed up to 1100 rpm is considered. The ion source should deliver about 0.5 kW of extracted D+ ion beam power. A duoplasmatron source with an electrostatic beam focusing system has been selected. Low current sections of the neutron source may operate with a high frequency ion source as well. The dc section for maximum yields around 1010 n/s is designed with special regard to beam monitoring. The fast pulsed section should produce up to 1 ns compressible pulsed D+ ion beam on a target spot with 5 MHz repetition rate. The report includes information about other components of the neutron source as a high voltage power supply, a vacuum system, beam transport, a diagnostic and control system and basic information about neutron source cells and radiation protection. (author)