LEU Fission Plate: Experimental Prototype Design Document

Ito, Takeyasu M.; O'Shaughnessy, Christopher Martin

doi:10.2172/1973787

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LEU Fission Plate: Experimental Prototype Design Document

Ito, Takeyasu M.·O'Shaughnessy, Christopher Martin

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Abstract

The Ultracold Neutron (UCN) source at LANSCE is currently the source of the highest density of UCN in the world. We intend to use innovative new solutions to boost our UCN density in order to maintain our leadership in this competitive field. Prior studies suggest that a fission plate neutron multiplier made from low enriched uranium (LEU) installed between our spallation target and UCN source moderator can boost the density by up to a factor of ten. Here we present a prototype of this idea that uses an existing one liter volume of LEU that can boost the UCN density by roughly a factor of 2. Additional simulation studies presented here also suggest that we may find more gains by replacing some of the moderator or reflector geometries with beryllium.

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72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS 73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS 74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS Atomic, Nuclear and Particle Physics

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Ito, Takeyasu M., O'Shaughnessy, Christopher Martin. 2023-05-11. LEU Fission Plate: Experimental Prototype Design Document. https://doi.org/10.2172/1973787

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