J.R. Haines

Target studies with BNL E951 at the AGS

We report initial results of exposing low-Z solid and high-Z liquid targets to 150-ns, 4/spl times/10/sup 12/ proton pulses with spot sizes on the order of 1 to 2 mm. The energy deposition density approached 100 J/g. Diagnostics included fiberoptic strain sensors on the solid target and high-speed photography of the liquid targets. This work is part of the R&D program of the Neutrino Factory and Muon Collider Collaboration.

R&D for the Spallation Neutron Source mercury target

An overview of the research and development program for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is presented. The materials-related efforts in target development are emphasized in order to provide a perspective for a number of specialized papers that are included in these proceedings. We give a brief introduction and historical sketch of the SNS project. Part of the materials R&D consists of calculations of radiation damage and of transmutation rates. He and H are considered to be the most important transmutation products. Radiation effects and Hg compatibility investigations make up the major part of the experimental effort. In the former, spallation irradiations are carried out in the LANSCE at Los Alamos National Laboratory and in the SINQ at the Paul Scherrer Institute. Irradiations that simulate aspects of a spallation environment are included to extend the parameter space of the spallation irradiations. The simulations are carried out at the low energy (MeV) accelerators of the TIF facility and at the HFIR reactor, both located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Irradiated specimens are tested for changes in mechanical properties and are characterized with respect to microstructural changes by transmission electron microscopy. The compatibility experiments cover both the effects of Hg on behavior in mechanical properties tests, and the effects of flowing Hg on mass transfer in target structural materials. The results of this extensive program of materials work indicate that the target design and materials performance will meet their intended service.

SNS target tests at the LANSCE-WNR in 2001 – Part I☆

Testing of mercury filled targets in an 800 MeV proton beam was conducted at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center-Weapons Neutron Research (LANSCE-WNR) facility on two occasions in 2001. The objective for the first test campaign was to investigate if target vessel cavitation damage could occur under transient pressure conditions much like the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) target. Such an investigation was inspired after mechanical tests conducted by a Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI/KEK) team revealed cavitation pitting in a mercury container having comparable pressure wave intensity. The first WNR test confirmed cavitation damage with 200 proton pulses on each of two test targets. As a result, concerns arose that the lifetime of the SNS target could be seriously limited. A second test campaign was then prepared and conducted to investigate if alternate target materials or geometries could reduce or eliminate the damage. Tested materials included Stellite, Nitronic-60 as well as 316LN stainless steel (the baseline SNS target material) that was cold worked and surface hardened. Theories that the original test target geometry caused the damage were checked with tests using thick beam windows and a target with a non-axisymmetric shape. This paper describes the test program and covers target preparation, irradiation conditions, post-test decontamination and an overview of the examinations performed. J.D. Hunn covers the detailed description of the metallurgical examinations in another paper here at IWSMT-5.

Overview of the IFMIF test facility

Abstract During the past few years, a reference design has been developed for the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF). According to the mission and specification of the general requirements, this reference design includes relevant machine parameters and conceptual designs for the major device subsystems – Test Facilities, Lithium Target Facilities and Accelerator Facilities. Major engineering efforts have been undertaken to establish a test cell design that follows closely the users requirements of the fusion materials community and allows safe and completely remote controlled handling. After a short description of the facility requirements, concepts for the two independent test cells, various test assemblies, remote handling equipment and hot cell facilities are presented.

Design, Materials and R+D Issues of Innovative Thermal Contact Joints for High Heat Flux Applications

Abstract Plasma facing components in fusion machines are designed with a layer of sacrificial armour material facing the plasma and a high-conductivity material in contact with the coolant. One of the most critical issues associated with making the proposed design concept work, from a power handling point of view, is achieving the necessary contact conductance between the armour and the heat sink. This paper presents a novel idea for the interface joint between the sacrificial armour and the actively cooled permanent heat sink. It consists of a thermal bond layer of a binary or more complex alloy, treated in the semi-solid region in such a way as to lead to a fine dispersion of a globular solid phase into a liquid matrix (rheocast process). The alloy in this “mushy state” exhibits a time-dependent, shear rate-dependent viscosity, which is maintained reversibly when the material is solidified and heated again in the semi-solid state. The function of the thermal bond layer is to facilitate heat transfer between the replaceable armour and the permanent heat sink without building up excessive thermal stresses, as in conventional brazed joints, and allow an easy replacement whenever needed without disturbing the coolant system. No contact pressure is required in this case to provide the desired heat transfer conductance, and the reversible thixotropic properties of the rheocast material should guarantee the stability of the layer in the semi-solid conditions. Key design, material and testing issues are identified and discussed in this paper with emphasis on specific needs for future research and development work. Examples of suitable material options which are being considered are reported together with some initial heat transfer analysis results.

Engineering and materials issues in designing a cold-gas divertor

Abstract One of the key challenges facing the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project is the development of plasma-facing components (PFCs) that can withstand the severe environmental conditions at the plasma edge. The most intensely loaded element of the PFCs is the divertor. The divertor must handle high fluxes of energetic plasma particles and electromagnetic radiation without excessive impurity buildup in the plasma core. The “cold-plasma-target” mode of divertor operation proposed for ITER expands the divertor design window to include several alternate heat sink and armor materials that were not available for the previous “high recycling divertor” approach. In particular, beryllium armor can now be considered with copper, niobium and vanadium heat sink materials; and helium or liquid metal coolants are feasible in addition to water. This paper presents material properties and compatability assessments for these materials and coolants along with parametric studies of thermal and mechanical performance. A viable design window is found for copper and niobium heat sinks with beryllium armor, but not for vanadium unless thin (∼ 1 mm) coolant structures can be accomodated mechanically.

A High-Power Target Experiment

We describe an experiment designed as a proof-of-principle test for a target system capable of converting a 4-MW proton beam into a high-intensity muon beam suitable for incorporation into either a neutrino factory complex or a muon collider. The target system is based on exposing a free mercury jet to an intense proton beam in the presence of a high-strength solenoidal magnetic field.

An R&D program for targetry and capture at a neutrino factory and muon collider source

The need for intense muon beams for muon colliders and for neutrino factories based on muon storage rings leads to a concept of 1-4 MW proton beams incident on a moving target that is inside a 20-T solenoid magnet, with a mercury jet as a preferred example. Novel technical issues for such a system include disruption of the mercury jet by the proton beam and distortion of the jet on entering the solenoid, as well as more conventional issues of materials lifetime and handling of activated materials in an intense radiation environment. As part of the R&D program of the Neutrino Factory and Muon Collider Collaboration, an R&D eort related to

Research Activities on Neutrorics under ASTE Collaboration at AGS/BNL

A series of experiments on a mercury spallation target using high-peak-power GeV proton-beam from the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) of Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) has been performed under an international collaboration among the laboratories in Japan, U.S. and Europe, namely the ASTE (AGS Spallation Target Experiment) collaboration. This paper reviews the current status of the experiments on neutronic performance of the mercury target.

Proton Induced Activation in Mercury: Comparison of Measurements and Calculations

Measurements and simulations of the proton beam interaction with the mercury target were performed to support Spallation Neutron Source design. Due to the abundance of isotopes produced in mercury, the long delay between the irradiation and the measurements, and the self-shielding of the mercury sample, the measurements were difficult to perform and the activities of several isotopes have large uncertainties. Calculations predicted the activities of the most reliably measured isotopes within 20%–40%; however, some large discrepancies were observed for some isotopes for which the measurements were considered less reliable. Predicted dose rates were in very good agreement with the measurements.