The High Brilliance neutron Source (HBS): A project for a next generation neutron research facility

The High Brilliance neutron Source (HBS) is a project for a next generation neutron research facility, based on new concepts and recent technological advancements. As elementary processes it uses neither fission nor spallation, but instead low energy nuclear reactions in a very compact Target-ModeratorReflector (TMR) assembly. Our facility design results in very efficient production of neutron beams with high brightness. Key features of HBS are: (i) very competitive instrument performance, (ii) comparatively low construction and operation costs, (iii) resilience, (iv) sustainability, (v) flexibility, (vi) accessibility and (vii) scalability. Here we present the basic layout of the facility, elaborate on the mentioned key features and report on the commissioning of a small test setup

The High Brilliance Neutron Source Target Stations

High Current Accelerator driven Neutron Sources (HiCANS) are a cost-efficient alternative for future large scale neutron facilities. They excel in transforming neutrons released by the primary nuclear reaction into a spectral range usable for applications. In particular, the cost of a target station represents only a minor fraction of the overall construction cost due to the lower energy of the primary neutrons, which requires less shielding. They can be designed to provide optimized pulse and spectral properties for applications in neutron scattering, analytics and imaging experiments. For the High Brilliance neutron Source (HBS) project at Forschungszentrum Jülich, we have developed a modular design that meets the radiation protection requirements while providing sufficient space in its core to adapt the target-moderator-reflector assembly to the different applications. In the following, we present the basic target station design which will be used at HBS for three different realizations with their own instrument suite. All relevant components have been designed, built and tested at the JULIC Neutron Platform which has produced neutrons since December 12th 2022. The simulated performance of a target station shows that the brightnesses of the moderators are in the range of modern research reactors and sub-MW power spallation sources

HighNESS Conceptual Design Report

The European Spallation Source, currently under construction in Lund, Sweden, is a multidisciplinary international laboratory. Once completed to full specifications, it will operate the world's most powerful pulsed neutron source. Supported by a 3 million Euro Research and Innovation Action within the EU Horizon 2020 program, a design study (HighNESS) has been completed to develop a second neutron source located below the spallation target. Compared to the first source, designed for high cold and thermal brightness, the new source has been optimized to deliver higher intensity, and a shift to longer wavelengths in the spectral regions of cold (CN, 2--20\,Å), very cold (VCN, 10--120\,Å), and ultracold (UCN, ${>}\,{500}$\,Å) neutrons. The second source comprises a large liquid deuterium moderator designed to produce CN and support secondary VCN and UCN sources. Various options have been explored in the proposed designs, aiming for world-leading performance in neutronics. These designs will enable the development of several new instrument concepts and facilitate the implementation of a high-sensitivity neutron-antineutron oscillation experiment (NNBAR). This document serves as the Conceptual Design Report for the HighNESS project, representing its final deliverable