Application of activation methods on the Dubna experimental transmutation set-ups

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Accelerator Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Spallation neutron sources are crucial for nuclear waste transmutation.
• Proton-driven spallation reactions offer a method for generating high neutron fluxes.
• Understanding neutron spectra is key to optimizing transmutation processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the production of high spallation neutron fluxes using GeV proton beams.
• To characterize neutron spectra suitable for radioactive waste transmutation via (n,x) reactions.
• To evaluate depleted uranium transmutation rates in different neutron flux conditions.

Main Methods:

• Irradiation of massive heavy targets with GeV proton beams at the Dubna High Energy Laboratory.
• Utilizing two distinct experimental setups to generate specific neutron spectra.
• Employing activation measurements and theoretical analysis to determine neutron spectra.
• Quantifying thermal-epithermal and fast-super-fast neutron fluxes using 197Au and 238U reactions.

Main Results:

• Successful generation of high spallation neutron fluxes.
• Characterization of neutron spectra tailored for transmutation applications.
• Estimation of thermal-epithermal and fast-super-fast neutron fluxes.
• Measurement of depleted uranium transmutation rates in the generated neutron fields.

Conclusions:

• High neutron fluxes can be efficiently produced using proton beams for transmutation.
• The experimental setups and analysis methods provide reliable characterization of neutron spectra.
• The study provides valuable data for the development of advanced nuclear waste management strategies.