A. Pisent

Be target development for the accelerator-based SPES-BNCT facility at INFN Legnaro.

An accelerator-driven thermal neutron source for BNCT, planned to be installed at the INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL), is in progress in the framework of the SPES (selective production of exotic species) research program. The most critical element of such a facility is the construction of a reliable neutron converter based on the (9)Be(p,xn) nuclear reaction, working at a high power level (150 kW) and 5 MeV beam energy, due to the SPES driver constraints. Two original, beryllium-based, target concepts have been designed for such a purpose. The present status of the neutron converter, as well as the test results performed so far on prototypes constructed, is reported here.

Progress on the accelerator based SPES-BNCT project at INFN Legnaro

In the framework of an advanced Exotic Ion Beam facility project, named SPES (Study and Production of Exotic Species), that will allow a frontier program in Nuclear and Interdisciplinary Physics, an intense thermal neutron beam facility, devoted to perform Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) experimental treatments on skin melanoma tumor is currently under construction based on the SPES proton driver. A vast radiobiological investigation in vitro and in vivo has started with the new 10B carriers developed. Special microdosimetric detectors have been constructed to properly measure all the BNCT dose components and their qualities. Both microdosimetric and radiobiological measurements are being performed at the Enea-Casaccia TAPIRO reactor.

The SPES project: An ISOL facility for exotic beams

SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) is an INFN project to develop a Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facility as an intermediate step toward EURISOL. The SPES project is part of the INFN Road Map for the Nuclear Physics development in Italy and is supported by the whole Italian Nuclear Physics community and mainly by LNL and LNS the INFN National Laboratories of Nuclear Physics in Legnaro and Catania. The Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL) was chosen as the site for the facility construction due to the presence of the PIAVE-ALPI accelerator complex, which will be used as re-accelerator for the RIBs. The SPES project is based on the ISOL method with an UCx Direct Target and makes use of a proton driver of at least 40 MeV energy and 200 microA current. Neutron-rich radioactive beams will be produced by Uranium fission at an expected fission rate in the target in the order of 1013 fissions per second. The key feature of SPES is to provide high intensity and high-quality beams of neutron rich nuclei to perform forefront research in nuclear structure, reaction dynamics and interdisciplinary fields like medical, biological and material sciences. The exotic isotopes will be re-accelerated by the ALPI superconducting linac at energies up to 10AMeV for masses in the region of A=130 amu with an expected rate on target of 109 pps.

Nuclear Structure Studies with Stable and Radioactive Beams: The SPES radioactive ion beam project

A new Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facility (SPES) is presently under construction at the Legnaro National Laboratories of INFN. The SPES facility is based on the ISOL method using an UCx Direct Target able to sustain a power of 10 kW. The primary proton beam is provided by a high current Cyclotron accelerator with energy of 35-70 MeV and a beam current of 0.2-0.5 mA. Neutron-rich radioactive ions are produced by proton induced fission on an Uranium target at an expected fission rate of the order of 1013 fissions per second. After ionization and selection the exotic isotopes are re-accelerated by the ALPI superconducting LINAC at energies of 10A MeV for masses in the region A=130 amu. The expected secondary beam rates are of the order of 107 – 109 pps. Aim of the SPES facility is to deliver high intensity radioactive ion beams of neutron rich nuclei for nuclear physics research as well as to be an interdisciplinary research centre for radio-isotopes production for medicine and for neutron beams.

The SPES project: an ISOL facility for exotic beams

SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) is an INFN project to develop a Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facility as an intermediate step toward EURISOL. The SPES project is part of the INFN Road Map for the Nuclear Physics development in Italy and is supported by the whole Italian Nuclear Physics community and mainly by LNL and LNS the INFN National Laboratories of Nuclear Physics in Legnaro and Catania. The Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL) was chosen as the site for the facility construction due to the presence of the PIAVE‐ALPI accelerator complex, which will be used as re‐accelerator for the RIBs. The SPES project is based on the ISOL method with an UCx Direct Target and makes use of a proton driver of at least 40 MeV energy and 200 microA current. Neutron‐rich radioactive beams will be produced by Uranium fission at an expected fission rate in the target in the order of 1013 fissions per second. The key feature of SPES is to provide high intensity and high‐quality beams of neutron rich nuclei to...

The SPES Radioactive Ion Beam facility of INFN

A new Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facility (SPES) is presently under construction at the Legnaro National Laboratories of INFN. The SPES facility is based on the ISOL method using an UCx Direct Target able to sustain a power of 10 kW. The primary proton beam is provided by a high current Cyclotron accelerator with energy of 40 MeV and a beam current of 0.2-0.5 mA. Neutron-rich radioactive ions are produced by proton induced fission at an expected fission rate of the order of 1013 fissions per second. After ionization and selection the exotic isotopes are re-accelerated by the ALPI superconducting LINAC at energies of 10A MeV for masses in the region A=130 amu. The expected secondary beam rates are of the order of 107 – 109 pps. Aim of the SPES facility is to deliver high intensity radioactive ion beams of neutron rich nuclei for nuclear physics research as well as to be an interdisciplinary research center for radio-isotopes production for medicine and for neutron beams.

The SPES Project at LNL: Status of the Project, Technical Challenges, Instrumentation, Scientific Program

A. Andrighettoa, M. Bellatob, D. Beninia, G. Bisoffia J. Bermudeza, E. Brezzia, L. Calabrettac, M. Calderollaa S. Canellaa, S. Carturana, M. Cinauseroa, M. Comuniana L. Costaa, S. Corradettia, G. De Angelisa, J. Espositoa E. Fagottia, P. Favarona, A. Galatáa, M. Giacchinia M. Gulminia, M. Lolloa, A. Lombardia, M. Manzolaroa M. Maggiorea, D. Manieroa, T. Marchia, A. Monettia R. Pengoa, R. Pegoraroa, A. Pisenta, M. Poggia A.M. Porcellatoa, C. Roncolatoa, M. Rossignolia, A.D. Russoa L. Sarchiaponea, D. Scarpaa, J.J. Valientea, J. Vasqueza D. Zafiropoulosa, G. Pretea

The SPES radioactive ion beam project of INFN

The SPES Radioactive Ion Beam facility at INFN-LNL is presently in the construction phase. The facility is based on the Isol (Isotope separation on-line) method with an UCx Direct Target able to sustain a power of 10 kW. The primary proton beam is provided by a high current Cyclotron accelerator with energy of 35-70 MeV and a beam current of 0.20.5 mA. Neutron-rich radioactive ions are produced by proton induced Uranium fission at an expected fission rate of the order of 1013 fissions per second. After ionization and selection the exotic isotopes are re-accelerated by the ALPI superconducting Linac at energies of 10A MeV for masses in the region A = 130 amu. The expected secondary beam rates are of the order of 107 ? 109 pps. Aim of the SPES project is to provide a facility for high intensity radioactive ion beams for nuclear physics research as well as to develop an interdisciplinary research center based on the cyclotron proton beam.

The SPES Direct Target Project at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro

The construction of the Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) Facility SPES‐DT, within the framework of the new European RIB panorama is under study at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The present project will be devoted to the production of neutron rich exotic nuclei, by using the fission process induced by a 40 MeV proton beam, 200 μA current, on a multi‐sliced Uranium Carbide (UCx) target. The UCx multiple thin disks target, developed at LNL is designed so that the power released by the proton beam is mainly dissipated by irradiation. Following the idea of the existing HRIBF facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA) where a proton primary beam of 40 MeV is also used, our target configuration is an evolution which permits to sustain a higher power on target. A high number of fission products (up to 1013 fission/s) will be obtained, still keeping a low power density deposition inside the target. The whole facility, together with the details on the Direct Target configuration, will be described. Thermo‐mec...

Progress on the accelerator based SPES‐BNCT project at INFN Legnaro

In the framework of an advanced Exotic Ion Beam facility, named SPES (Study and Production of Exotic Species), that will allow a frontier program both in nuclear and interdisciplinary physics, an intense thermal neutron beam facility, devoted to perform Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) experimental treatments on skin melanoma tumor, is currently under construction based on the SPES proton driver. A vast radiobiological investigation in vitro and in vivo has started with the new 10B carriers developed. Special microdosimetric detectors have been constructed to properly measure all the BNCT dose components and their qualities. Both microdosimetric and radiobiological measurements are being performed at the new HYTHOR beam shaping assembly at the Enea‐Casaccia TAPIRO reactor.