SoLid : Search for Oscillations with Lithium-6 Detector at the SCK-CEN BR2 reactor

Sterile neutrinos have been considered as a possible explanation for the recent reactor and Gallium anomalies arising from reanalysis of reactor flux and calibration data of previous neutrino experiments. A way to test this hypothesis is to look for distortions of the anti-neutrino energy caused by oscillation from active to sterile neutrino at close stand-off (similar to 6-8m) of a compact reactor core. Due to the low rate of anti-neutrino interactions the main challenge in such measurement is to control the high level of gamma rays and neutron background. The SoLid experiment is a proposal to search for active-to-sterile anti-neutrino oscillation at very short baseline of the SCK center dot CEN BR2 research reactor. This experiment uses a novel approach to detect anti-neutrino with a highly segmented detector based on Lithium-6. With the combination of high granularity, high neutron-gamma discrimination using 6LiF:ZnS(Ag) and precise localization of the Inverse Beta Decay products, a better experimental sensitivity can be achieved compared to other state-of-the-art technology. This compact system requires minimum passive shielding allowing for very close stand off to the reactor. The experimental set up of the SoLid experiment and the BR2 reactor will be presented. The new principle of neutrino detection and the detector design with expected performance will be described. The expected sensitivity to new oscillations of the SoLid detector as well as the first measurements made with the 8 kg prototype detector deployed at the BR2 reactor in 2013-2014 will be reported

Commissioning of the ALTO 50 MeV electron linac

online : http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/AccelConf/e06/PAPERS/MOPLS113.pdfThe ALTO 50 MeV electron linac is dedicated to the production of neutron-rich radioactive nuclei using the photo-fission process and the optimisation of the targetion source system for SPIRAL 2 and EURISOL projects. The accelerator consists of a 3 MeV injector (old test station of LAL, Laboratoire de l'Accélérateur Linéaire d'Orsay), LIL (Linac Injector of LEP) accelerating structure, RF power plant, beam line, control system and diagnostics. Specified and measured beam parameters will be compared to show the performances of the photofission process and eventually other applications

Final report on the feasibility of the XT-ADS spallation target

In the framework of the EUROTRANS project an experimental accelerator driven system “XT-ADS” is being designed. This document is the final deliverable of work package 1.4, the project in which the design of the spallation target for the XT-ADS is developed. The present status of the design of a windowless spallation target for the XT-ADS is discussed with particular focus on the modifications made as compared to MYRRHA draft 2. The document is composed of two major parts. After the definition of the design boundary conditions, a first major part deals with the general layout of the spallation target loop with a discussion of the current lay-out options. In the second part the different design support studies that have been performed are described. These include the spallation target zone and spallation loop thermal-hydraulics, system dynamics, beam impact studies, neutronics, mechanical integration and safety analyses. In the last section some conclusions are formulated

Design and R&D support of the XT-ADS Spallation Target

International audienceThe experimental accelerator-driven system XT-ADS is being developed within the framework of the European FP6 project EUROTRANS. The device will serve a twofold purpose. Firstly it will act as an ADS concept demonstrator and secondly it will serve as a flexible fast neutron spectrum experimental irradiation tool for materials, fuel materials and radioactive isotopes studies. Because of a functional similarity between the XT-ADS and the MYRRHA concept that was developed earlier at SCK-CEN in Mol, Belgium, the design file of the latter was chosen as a starting point for the development of the XT-ADS

Strontium-82 and Future Germanium-68 Production at the ARRONAX Facility

International audienceThe ARRONAX cyclotron is fully operational since the end of 2010. It delivers projectiles (p, d, alpha) at high energy (up to 70 MeV for protons) and high intensity(2*375 mu A for protons). The main fields of application of ARRONAX are radionuclide production for nuclear medicine and irradiation of inert or living materials for radiolysis and radio-biology studies. A large part of the beam time will be used to produce radionuclides for targeted radionuclide therapy (copper-67, scandium-47 and astatine-211) as well as for PET imaging (scandium-44, copper-64, strontium-82 for rubidium-82 generators, and germanium-68 for gallium-68 generators). Since June 2012, large scale production of Sr-82 has started with rubidium chloride (RbCl) targets. Several improvements are being explored which consist of changing the target material from RbCl to Rb metal and introducing an additional target behind the rubidium assembly. Thus, a target alloy of nickel/gallium for germanium-68 production has been developed. It is obtained by electroplating and exhibits a better thermal behavior than the natural gallium target used in most production facilities

XT-ADS windowless spallation target design and corresponding R&D topics

International audienc

Photofission for the production of radioactive beams: Experimental data from an on-line measurement

A PARRNe 1 experiment (Production d'Atomes Radioactifs Riches en Neutrons) aimed at the production of neutron-rich radioactive noble gases produced by photofission has been performed at CERN. The LEP Pre-Injector (LPI) has been used to deliver a 50 MeV electron beam. The results obtained show clearly that the use of an electron beam to produce neutron-rich fission fragments for future RNB facilities is an option that should not be neglected. (19 refs)