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At least 289 records · Page 16

Calibration of the analog beam-signal hardware for the credited engineered beam power limit system at the Proton Power Upgrade Project at the Spallation Neutron Source

A programmable signal processor-based credited safety control that calculates pulsed beam power based on beam kinetic energy and charge was designed as part of the Proton Power Upgrade (PPU) project at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS). The system must reliably shut off the beam if the average power exceeds 2.145 MW averaging over 60 seconds. System calibration requires pedigree in measurements, calibration setup, and calculations. This paper discusses the calibration of the analog beam signal components up to and including the Analog Digital Convertors (ADCs) for implementation into the Safety Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs).

Bobrek, Miljko↗

The Los Alamos Neutron Science Center Spallation Neutron Sources

The Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) provides the scientific community with intense sources of neutrons, which can be used to perform experiments supporting civilian and national security research. These measurements include nuclear physics experiments for the defense program, basic science, and the radiation effect programs. This paper focuses on the radiation effects program, which involves mostly accelerated testing of semiconductor parts. When cosmic rays strike the earth's atmosphere, they cause nuclear reactions with elements in the air and produce a wide range of energetic particles. Because neutrons are uncharged, they can reach aircraft altitudes and sea level. These neutrons are thought to be the most important threat to semiconductor devices and integrated circuits. The best way to determine the failure rate due to these neutrons is to measure the failure rate in a neutron source that has the same spectrum as those produced by cosmic rays. Los Alamos has a high-energy and a low-energy neutron source for semiconductor testing. Both are driven by the 800-MeV proton beam from the LANSCE accelerator. The high-energy neutron source at the Weapons Neutron Research (WNR) facility uses a bare target that is designed to produce fast neutrons with energies from 100 keV to almost 800 MeV. The measured neutron energy distribution from WNR is very similar to that of the cosmic-ray-induced neutrons in the atmosphere. However, the flux provided at the WNR facility is typically 5×107 times more intense than the flux of the cosmic-ray-induced neutrons. This intense neutron flux allows testing at greatly accelerated rates. An irradiation test of less than an hour is equivalent to many years of neutron exposure due to cosmic-ray neutrons. The low-energy neutron source is located at the Lujan Neutron Scattering Center. It is based on a moderated source that provides useful neutrons from subthermal energies to ~100 keV. The characteristics of these sources, and ongoing industry program are described in this paper.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Plasma emission spectroscopy for operating and developing the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) H{sup −} ion sources

A RF-driven, Cs-enhanced H{sup −} ion source feeds the SNS accelerator with a high current (typically >50 mA), ∼1.0 ms pulsed beam at 60 Hz. To achieve the persistent high current beam for several weeks long service cycles, each newly installed ion source undergoes a rigorous conditioning and cesiation processes. Plasma conditioning outgases the system and sputter-cleans the ion conversion surfaces. A cesiation process immediately following the plasma conditioning releases Cs to provide coverage on the ion conversion surfaces. The effectiveness of the ion source conditioning and cesiation is monitored with plasma emission spectroscopy using a high-sensitivity optical spectrometer. Plasma emission spectroscopy is also used to provide a means for diagnosing and confirming a failure of the insulating coating of the ion source RF antenna which is immersed in the plasma. Emissions of composition elements of the antenna coating material, Na emission being the most significant, drastically elevate to signal a failure when it happens. Plasma spectra of the developmental ion source with an AlN (aluminum nitrite) chamber and an external RF antenna are also briefly discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

M-STAR: Magnetism second target advanced reflectometer at the Spallation Neutron Source

M-STAR is a next generation polarized neutron reflectometer with advanced capabilities. A new focusing guide concept is optimized for samples with dimensions down to a millimeter range. A proposed hybrid pulse-skipping chopper will enable experiments at constant geometry at one incident angle in a broad range of wavevector transfer Q up to 0.3 A –1 for specular, off-specular, and GISANS measurements. M-STAR will empower nanoscience and spintronics studies routinely on small samples (~2 × 2 mm 2 ) and of atomic-scale thickness using versatile experimental conditions of magnetic and/or electric fields, light, and temperature applied in situ to novel complex device-like nanosystems with multiple buried interfaces. M-STAR will enable improved grazing incidence diffraction measurements, as a surface-sensitive depth-resolved probe of, e.g., the out-of-plane component of atomic magnetic moments in ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and more complex structures as well as in-plane atomic-scale structures inaccessible with contemporary diffractometry and reflectometry. New horizons will be opened by the development of an option to probe near-surface dynamics with inelastic grazing incidence scattering in the time-of-flight mode. These novel options in combination with ideally matched parameters of the second target station will place M-STAR in the world’s leading position for high resolution polarized reflectometry.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Early-Stage Radiation Safety Analysis for the Spallation Neutron Source Second Target Station Bunker Operations

The Second Target Station project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will develop a cold neutron source to meet growing experimental needs. This paper describes calculations of the residual dose rates associated with the monolith shield plug and the beamline bunker, two key conventional operations and radiation safety features. While neutron production is active, the instrument hall outside the bunker must be generally accessible with dose rates of less than 0.25 mrem/h. When neutron production is halted, the bunker must be accessible for hands-on maintenance operations. Further, these two requirements form the cause for the assessments reported herein of residual dose rates caused by the monolith shield plug and residual dose rates in the bunker. The monolith shield plug was shown to not produce significant dose rates inside the bunker after a 20-year lifetime, and the residual dose rates inside the bunker for the case of an operating beamline were shown to reasonably allow for hands-on maintenance. These calculations are based on preliminary design models of the relevant systems. Additionally, an example showing the significance of considering neutron supermirror physics in transport calculations that track nuclide production and destruction rates to produce gamma sources for residual dose rate calculations is included. The example shows that if neutron supermirror physics is not considered, dose rate fields may be significantly underpredicted.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Elastic Precursor Decay and Spallation in Nonporous Tungsten Carbide Ceramics

To identify the possible contribution of relaxation processes to the resistance against high-rate deformation, evolution of shock-compression waves in tungsten carbide (WC) ceramics manufactured by spark-plasma sintering at a maximum compressive stress of 27 GPa is measured. Strong elastic precursor decay upon changing the thickness of the samples from 0.15 to 4 mm is revealed. At maximum shock compressive stresses twice exceeding the Hugoniot elastic limit, a decrease in the spall strength value by about 30% from its value in the elastic region is recorded.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Design of the Next Generation Spallation Target

The purpose of this summary is to detail the studies that enable new nuclear physics experiments currently limited by neutron intensity or energy resolution available at LANSCE. The target is being redesigned so that the Flight Paths (FP) in the upper tier provide a higher intensity in the epithermal and medium energy ranges.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗