High-power liquid-lithium jet target for neutron production

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Accelerator Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• High-intensity proton beams require robust targets for neutron production.
• Liquid lithium targets offer advantages in thermal management and beam handling.
• Existing targets face limitations in power dissipation and operational stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, build, and test a compact liquid-lithium target (LiLiT) for neutron generation.
• To evaluate the target's performance under high-power electron beam irradiation.
• To prepare for proton beam irradiation at the Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF).

Main Methods:

• A liquid lithium jet target was designed using thermal modeling.
• The (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be neutron yield, energy, and angular distributions were calculated.
• Electron beam irradiation was used to test thermal dissipation capabilities (>4 kW/cm(2)).

Main Results:

• The LiLiT system demonstrated stable operation at ~200 °C with a 1.5 mm thick film flowing at up to 7 m/s.
• Electron beam tests confirmed the target's ability to dissipate ~2 MW/cm(3) power density.
• Stable temperature and vacuum conditions were maintained during high-power electron irradiation.

Conclusions:

• The LiLiT is a viable solution for intense neutron production using the (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be reaction.
• The target's design effectively manages high thermal loads, suitable for nuclear astrophysics and BNCT.
• The system is ready for proton beam commissioning at SARAF for advanced research.