M. Manolopoulou, S. Stoulos, M. Fragopoulou (Greece), M.I. Krivopustov, A. Sosnin (Russia), and M. Zamani-Valasiadou (Greece)
Spallation sources, Neutron and proton detection, Transmutation
Spallation reactions of a relativistic proton beam in a solid target are able to produce intense neutron fluxes. Such sub-critical Accelerator Driven System can be used for transmutation or incinerations of long-lived radioactive waste by neutron capture or neutron induced fission. A combined Pb/U target irradiated as the spallation source by relativistic proton beams from 0.7 up to 2 GeV. Slow, intermediate and fast neutron detection was performed by several types of passive detectors i.e. SSNTDs (as particle and fission detectors) and activation detectors (238 U, nat Au, nat Cd). Neutron spatial distribution along the U-blanket is presented in order to estimate slow and fast neutron multiplicity that is essential to study the transmutation and incineration efficiency of the specific spallation source. To evaluate the tolerance of any structural material in source design and construction, except the fast neutron component, the secondary proton distribution was measured using nat Cd activation technique. Moreover, the effectiveness of a polyethylene shielding to reduce the elevated escaping rate of the secondary neutrons and shift them to energies useful for transmutation reactions is also discussed.
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