Abstract:

"Neutron science is used in fields as diverse as radiotherapy, radioisotope production, nuclear waste management, or transmutation. In response to the increasing demand for neutron production facilities, this presentation explores the performance of compact electron linacs as drivers for neutron sources, discussing whether they provide strong and/or bright neutron beams and comparing their performance with the current state of the art. First, using G4BEAMLINE simulations, the dimensions of a tungsten target are optimized, and the emitted neutron spectrum is characterized. Then, the strengths of two compact neutron sources based on electron linear accelerators designed at CERN are calculated, and a comparison of cost, power, and size with the state-of-the-art is presented. Finally, a design of a moderator target assembly for thermal and cold neutron production is proposed, proving great potential for imaging and spectroscopy applications."