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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Oakridge PPU Magnets: Results and Measurements

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is being upgraded from 1.0 GeV to 1.3 GeV (or 1.4 to 2.8 MW). Several water-cooled magnets have been upgraded to transport 30% higher beam energy. Fermilab contributed the magnet design for the new chicane magnets and injection/extraction septum. Designing the magnets was a challenging task because the new magnets required good combined integrated field quality and needed to occupy the old magnets space but with about 20% greater integrated magnetic field. Additional strong requirements applied to the magnets fringe field so as not to disturb the circulating beam. After fabrication of the magnets, an extensive measurement campaign was developed and performed at Fermilab’s Magnet Test Facility. The measurements needed to assess magnet performance and provide comparison to design calculations. These included verification of field strength and harmonics along an 8 m length and 200 mm good field diameter for the chicane dipoles, end-field Hall probe mapping of these magnets, and measurements along two differently curved trajectories within the ∼3 m septum gradient magnet. Details of the measurements and systems are presented along with results and comparison to field models.

DiMarco, J. [Fermilab] (ORCID:0000000228400036)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Development of Design for the STS Extraction Magnet System

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory STS Project will enhance the Spallation Neutron Source by adding a new neutron source. The upgrade includes a 30% increase in beam energy and a 50% boost in beam current, doubling the accelerator's power capability to 2.8 MW. The Ring-to-Second-Target Beam Transport (RTST) system is vital in directing high-energy proton beams to the new second target station. New magnets have to fit into a restricted space within the existing beamline to add the new extraction line. New, fast kicker magnets (Pulsed Dipole), a focusing quad with an aperture for both beamlines (Large Quad) and the replacement of existing 21Q40 Quads with 'Narrow Quads' having identical fields as the existing design are Fermilab's responsibility. The design of these magnets poses unique challenges, as in addition to the high requirements on the quality of magnetic fields, they are subject to major restrictions related to their dimensions.

Chernenok, V. [Fermilab] (ORCID:0009000778148215)↗
DOE OSTI2013

Extremum seeking-based optimization of high voltage converter modulator rise-time

We digitally implement an extremum seeking (ES) algorithm, which optimizes the rise time of the output voltage of a high voltage converter modulator (HVCM) at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) HVCM test stand by iteratively, simultaneously tuning the first 8 switching edges of each of the three phase drive waveforms (24 variables total). We achieve a 50 μs rise time, which is reduction in half compared to the 100 μs achieved at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Considering that HVCMs typically operate with an output voltage of 100 kV, with a 60Hz repetition rate, the 50 μs rise time reduction will result in very significant energy savings. The ES algorithm will prove successful, despite the noisy measurements and cost calculations, confirming the theoretical results that the algorithm is not affected by noise whose frequency components are independent of the perturbing frequencies.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Experimental Results from Droop Compensation for the High Voltage Converter Modulators

The High Voltage Convertor Modulators are used to power the RF klystrons used throughout the linear accelerator at the Spallation Neutron Source. The output voltage of the modulator has significant voltage droop and ripple which, combined with low level RF system limitations, affect performance and stability of the accelerator cavities. In conjunction with the progress in the development of the new controller, different modulation techniques were implemented and studied on the test modulator. This paper discusses experimental results from implementation of different modulation schemes has on the modulator output voltage pulse. Thermal measurements were carried out to determine the effect of these modulations schemes on long term reliability of the modulator. Future plans are also discussed.

Accelerators↗
DOE OSTI2017

Development and Characterization of a High-Energy Neutron Time-of-Flight Imaging System

We present that Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a prototype of a high-energy neutron time-of-flight imaging system for the non-destructive evaluation of dense, massive, and/or high atomic number objects. High-energy neutrons provide the penetrating power, and thus the high dynamic range necessary to image internal features and defects of such objects. The addition of the time gating capability allows for scatter rejection when paired with a pulsed monoenergetic beam, or neutron energy selection when paired with a pulsed broad-spectrum neutron source. The Time Gating to Reject Scatter and Select Energy (TiGReSSE) system was tested at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center’s (LANSCE) Weapons Nuclear Research (WNR) facility, a spallation neutron source, to provide proof of concept measurements and to characterize the instrument response. This paper will show results of several objects imaged during this run cycle. In addition, results from system performance metrics such as the Modulation Transfer Function and the Detective Quantum Efficiency measured as a function of neutron energy, characterize the current system performance and inform the next generation of neutron imaging instrument.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Ce-Doped LiI Scintillator Film-Based High Rate, High Spatial Resolution Neutron Anger Camera for Neutron Scattering Facilities

The 2-D position sensitive neutron detectors featuring a significantly improved count rate capacity and a sub-mm spatial resolution are in high demand by neutron scattering facilities, especially the next generation high-flux spallation neutron sources (SNSs). They are anticipated to play a crucial role in fully utilizing the unprecedentedly high neutron brightness offered by these sources. In this work, a high rate and high spatial resolution neutron Anger camera has been successfully developed based on a Ce-doped microcolumnar LiI scintillator film and the PETsys TOFPET2 ASIC readout electronics. The performance evaluation was conducted in a standard laboratory environment as well as the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) with regard to light yield, γ-ray sensitivity, neutron detection efficiency, count rate capability, spatial resolution, and position linearity. The LiI:Ce scintillator was found to have a higher light yield and a lower γ-ray sensitivity than GS20 (i.e., 11729 versus 6000 photons/n and 1.67 × 10 −5 versus on the order of 10 −4 ). The neutron detection efficiency was measured to be 63% at 4.2 Å. This camera demonstrated an exceptional count rate capability, up to at least 481 kHz without rate loss. The spatial resolution was as good as 0.47 mm. Here, the position linearity was also enhanced.

High rate↗
DOE OSTI2020

Melting temperature measurement of refractory oxide ceramics as a function of oxygen fugacity using containerless methods

An aerodynamic conical nozzle levitator (CNL) has been used to measure the melting temperatures of refractory ceramics. The well-established method of cooling traces has been adapted to allow measurements for air-sensitive samples using a controlled atmosphere, where the oxygen partial pressure can be adjusted and monitored in real time. In this study, we explain the details of a system that we developed for use at the Spallation Neutron Source (Oak Ridge National Laboratory). Measurements of the melting behavior of (Fe,Cr,Al) 3 O 4 spinels were made between log (PO 2 (atm)) of -0.7 and -5. The melting temperature of hercynite is found to be oxygen potential dependent, ranging between 1692 and 1767°C at log (PO 2 ) values from -4.42 to -0.70.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Steam oxidation and microstructural evolution of rare earth silicate environmental barrier coatings

A primary failure mode for environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) on SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) is the oxidation of the intermediate Si-bond coating, where the formation of SiO 2 at the bond coating–EBC interface results in debonding and spallation. This work compares the microstructure evolution and steam oxidation kinetics of the Si-bond coating beneath yttrium/ytterbium disilicate ((Y/Yb)DS) and ytterbium disilicate/monosilicate (YbDS/YbMS) EBCs to better understand the impact of EBC composition on oxidation kinetics. After 500 1-h cycles at 1350°C, (Y/Yb)DS displayed a decreasing concentration of the monosilicate minor phase and increasing concentration of porosity as furnace cycling time increased, whereas the YbDS/YbMS EBC displayed negligible microstructural evolution. For both EBC systems, thermally grown oxide growth rates in steam were found to increase by approximately an order magnitude compared to dry air oxidation. The (Y/Yb)DS EBC displayed a reduced steam oxidation rate compared to YbDS/YbMS.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thermally Grown Oxide Stress in PS-PVD and EB-PVD Thermal Barrier Coatings Observed at Various Lifetimes Via Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction

The current standard application method for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) on turbine blades for jet engines is electron-beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) due to its high strain tolerance and low thermal conductivity. An emerging deposition method, plasma-spray physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD), presents an opportunity for a tailorable microstructure, and non-line-of-sight deposition that is faster and less expensive. To compare the lifetime behavior of both PS-PVD and EB-PVD coatings, samples subjected to 300 and 600 thermal cycles were measured during a 1 h thermal cycle to determine the strains, which were converted to stress, in the thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer of the TBCs using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD). Room temperature XRD measurements indicated among samples that PS-PVD coatings experienced greater variation in in-plane room temperature strain in the TGO after cycling than the EB-PVD coatings. In-situ XRD measurements indicated similar high-temperature strain and no spallation after 600 thermal cycles for both coatings. Further, microscopy imaging after cycling showed greater rumpling in PS-PVD coatings that led to different failure modes between the two coatings’ TGO layers. The tailorability of PS-PVD coatings allows for adjustments in the processing parameters to improve their overall performance after aging and bridge the differences between the two deposition methods.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Helium Degassing Filter for Mercury Process Gas Liquid Separator

Testing was conducted to find a suitable filter to help separate helium gas from the Spallation Neutron Source’s mercury process loop. This filter is proposed for installation on the gas-liquid separator (GLS) vent line to prevent a column of liquid mercury from flowing outside of the process loop shielding in the service bay. The filter’s desired properties are to prevent the passage of liquid mercury, provide minimal resistance to helium flow, resist radiation, operate for the lifetime of the target, be replaceable, and have a reliable construction. Testing concluded that the Mott Corporation POU-10-S series of filters provided the best performance available. The filters could stop most liquid mercury passage while allowing helium passage at nominal pressures above the GLS in standard conditions. This result has several implications for the design of the GLS vent system.

Weinmeister, Justin↗
DOE OSTI2024

Material Model Parameters Optimization in Liquid Mercury Target Dynamics Simulation With Machine Learning Surrogates

A pulsed spallation target is subjected to very short (∼0.7μs) but intense loads (23.3 kJ) from repeated proton pulses, which knock away neutrons from the mercury atoms’ nuclei for a wide range application in physics, engineering, medicine, petroleum exploration, biology, chemistry, etc. The effect of this pulsed loading on the stainless-steel target module which contains the flowing mercury target material is difficult to predict not only due to its short but intense explosive-like physical reaction, but also the nonlinear material behavior of the liquid mercury in the structure. Injecting small helium bubbles in the mercury has been an efficient method of mitigating the pressure wave at high power level stage. However, prediction of the resultant loading on the target is more difficult when helium gas is intentionally injected into the mercury. A 2-phase material model that incorporates the Rayleigh-Plesset (R-P) model is expected to address this complex multi-physics dynamics problem by including the bubble dynamics in the liquid mercury. A parameter sensitivity study was firstly employed to understand their impact on the simulation strains. The investigated parameters included E, μ, γ, σ, n, VFgas, and gas cumulative volume curve control parameters a and b. Verification and validation results from sparse polynomial expansions (SPE) method and directional Gaussian smoothing (DGS) optimization show that the surrogate model had training error of ∼7% and validation error of ∼15%, indicating that machine learning methods and surrogate models can help optimize the uncertain parameters in the complex 2-phase material model. This approach is expected to fill the knowledge gap between unknown liquid-gas mixture material model and measured vessel strain responses.

Lin, Lianshan↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sensitivity Analysis of Tunable Equation of State Material Model In Pulsed Mercury Target Simulation

A pulsed neutron spallation target is subjected to very short but intense loads from repeated proton pulses. Approximately 60% of the energy from each proton pulse is deposited into the mercury target material and the stainless-steel target structure, leading to a high-pressure region in both the stationary target structure and the flowing mercury. The high-pressure region propagates and leads to fluid-structure interaction. The resultant loading on the target structure containing liquid mercury is difficult to predict, although various simulation approaches and material models for the mercury have been tried. To date, the best match of simulation to experimental data is obtained by using an equation of state (EOS) material model with a specified tensile cutoff pressure, which simulates the cavitation threshold. The inclusion of a threshold to represent cavitation is key to the successful predictions of stress waves triggered by the high-energy pulse striking the mercury and vessel. However, recent measurements of target structure strain show that significant discrepancies remain between the measured and simulated strain values in the EOS mercury model. These differences grow when noncondensable helium gas is intentionally injected into the flowing mercury to reduce the loading on the structure. An EOS-based proportional–integral–derivative (PID) mercury model has been proposed to reduce the gap between the measured and simulated vessel strain responses for targets with gas injection. The conceptual and numerical description and initial investigation of the PID model are presented in previous work. Further studies of this PID model — including the sensitivity of the structure’s strain response to model parameters (the tensile cutoff, PID parameters Kp, Ki, and Kd) — are reported in this article. Results show the strain response is more sensitive to changes in the tensile cutoff value than to changes in the model parameters Kp, Ki, and Kd. These results will aid in future work where the model parameters will be optimized to match simulation data to strain measurements.

Lin, Lianshan↗
DOE OSTI2022

Bifurcation Buckling Analysis and Non-Linear Collapse Analysis of Teardrop Shaped Vacuum Chamber

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) accelerator is being upgraded to increase the beam power from 1.4MW at 1GeV to 2.8MW at 1.3GeV. The currents in the middle two injection chicane magnets cannot simply be scaled up to accommodate the increased injection energy of 1.3GeV due to potential excessive H- stripping; the magnets must be replaced with longer, lower-field magnets and the associated vacuum chambers need to be redesigned. A new teardrop-shaped vacuum chamber was initially designed to accommodate the new magnets and the updated beam paths and instrumentation. This paper focuses on the structural stability study of the teardrop shape vacuum chamber based on buckling analysis. Protection against collapse from buckling according to the ASME BPVC requirement has been evaluated in depth. First, a Type-1 bifurcation buckling analysis using a linear eigenvalue solution to determine the critical load factor was performed. Subsequently, a Type-3 nonlinear collapse analysis was conducted using the static Riks method with elastic-plastic material properties and imperfections explicitly considered in the model geometry. The critical buckling load for the teardrop shape vacuum chamber was confidently estimated based upon this two-stage approach.

Jiang, Hao↗
DOE OSTI2015

Al capping layers for nondestructive x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of transition-metal nitride thin films

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) compositional analyses of materials that have been air exposed typically require ion etching in order to remove contaminated surface layers. However, the etching step can lead to changes in sample surface and near-surface compositions due to preferential elemental sputter ejection and forward recoil implantation; this is a particular problem for metal/gas compounds and alloys such as nitrides and oxides. Here, the authors use TiN as a model system and compare XPS analysis results from three sets of polycrystalline TiN/Si(001) films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering in a separate vacuum chamber. The films are either (1) air-exposed for ≤10 min prior to insertion into the ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) XPS system; (2) air-exposed and subject to ion etching, using different ion energies and beam incidence angles, in the XPS chamber prior to analysis; or (3) Al-capped in-situ in the deposition system prior to air-exposure and loading into the XPS instrument. The authors show that thin, 1.5–6.0 nm, Al capping layers provide effective barriers to oxidation and contamination of TiN surfaces, thus allowing nondestructive acquisition of high-resolution core-level spectra representative of clean samples, and, hence, correct bonding assignments. The Ti 2p and N 1s satellite features, which are sensitive to ion bombardment, exhibit high intensities comparable to those obtained from single-crystal TiN/MgO(001) films grown and analyzed in-situ in a UHV XPS system and there is no indication of Al/TiN interfacial reactions. XPS-determined N/Ti concentrations acquired from Al/TiN samples agree very well with Rutherford backscattering and elastic recoil analysis results while ion-etched air-exposed samples exhibit strong N loss due to preferential resputtering. The intensities and shapes of the Ti 2p and N 1s core level signals from Al/TiN/Si(001) samples do not change following long-term (up to 70 days) exposure to ambient conditions, indicating that the thin Al capping layers provide stable surface passivation without spallation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Laser and optical transport line for laser-based ion beam diagnostics and control in the SNS linear accelerator

We report our recent upgrade of the laser and optical transport line for the laser-based ion beam diagnostics (laser wire) system at the linear accelerator (linac) of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS). A new light source based on diodepumped solid-state laser amplifiers has been developed to provide near diffraction-limited laser beam with a variety of pulse structures. The free-space optical transport line has been modified to include image relay optics with remote control, which greatly improved the laser beam quality and position stability at individual measurement stations. The upgraded system enables novel beam diagnostics/control capabilities including longitudinal profile measurement and high-energy proton beam extraction from the SNS linac.

Liu, Yun↗
DOE OSTI2011

Prompt Neutron Multiplicity Measurements with Portable Detectors

Mobile detection of kilogram quantities of special nuclear materials (SNM) during maritime transportation is a challenging problem for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Counting neutrons emitted by the SNM and partitioning them from background neutrons of multiple origins is the most effective passive means of detecting the SNM. Unfortunately, neutron detection, counting, and partitioning in a maritime environment is complex due to the presence of spallation neutrons (commonly known as “ship effect”) and to the complicated nature of the neutron scattering in that environment. This work studied the possibilities of building a prototype neutron detector using boron- 10 (10B) as the converter in a novel form factor called “straws” that would address the above problem by examining multiplicity distributions of neutrons originating from a fissioning source. Currently, commercially manufactured fission meters (FM) are available that separate cosmic neutrons from non-cosmic neutrons and quantitatively determine the strength of a fissioning source; however, these FMs use 3He, which is becoming increasingly difficult to procure; also the size and weight of a commercial FM is not conducive to manual neutron detection operations in a maritime environment. The current project may provide a near-term solution to the crisis that has arisen from the global scarcity of 3He by offering a viable alternative to the FM. The prototype detector provides a large-area, efficient, lightweight, more granular neutron responsive detection surface (to facilitate imaging) to ease the application of the new FMs. A novel prototype fission meter is being designed at National Security Technologies, LLC, using a thin uniform coating of 10B as neutron converter (only 1 micron thick) inside a large array of thin (4 mm diameter) copper tubes. The copper tubes are only 2-mil thick, and each holds the stretched anode wire under tension and high voltage. The tubes are filled with proportional counter gas (a mixture of 90% Ar and 10% CO2). The tubes operate in proportional counter mode and attract mobile charged particles (alpha-particles) created in the nuclear interaction 10B(n, a)7Li. Several MCNPX calculations covering the substantial design parameter space of neutron multiplicity detectors have been performed and are presented. Our detector’s thermal neutron detection efficiency is compared to two Ortec commercial products, the Fission Meter and Detective-EX. Pulse height spectra originating from the charged particles created in the nuclear reaction 10B(n, a) 7Li* + 2.310 MeV (94%) – excited state (1) and 10B(n, a) 7Li + 2.792 MeV (6%) – ground state (2) are examined, and the response to incident gamma rays are demonstrated.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Sci-Thur AM: YIS – 01: New technologies for astatine-211 targeted alpha therapy research

Purpose: The short-range, densely ionizing α-particles emitted by {sup 211}At (t{sub 1/2}=7.2h) are well suited for the treatment of diffuse microscopic disease, using cancer targeting biomolecules. {sup 211}At availability is limited by the rarity of α-cyclotrons required for standard production. Image-based dosimetry is also limited for {sup 211}At, which emits low intensity X-rays. Our goal was to leverage state-of-the-art infrastructure at TRIUMF to produce and evaluate two related isotopes, {sup 211}Rn (t{sub 1/2}=14.6h, 73% decay to {sup 211}At) as a generator for {sup 211}At, and {sup 209}At (t{sub 1/2}=5.4h, X-ray/gamma-ray emitter) as a novel 211At surrogate for preclinical imaging studies. Methods: Produced by spallation of uranium with 480 MeV protons, mass separated ion beams of short-lived francium isotopes were implanted into NaCl targets where {sup 211}Rn or {sup 209}At were produced by radioactive decay, in situ. {sup 211}Rn was transferred to dodecane from which {sup 211}At was efficiently extracted and evaluated for clinical applicability. High energy SPECT/CT was evaluated for measuring {sup 209}At activity distributions in mice and phantoms. Results: Our small scale {sup 211}Rn/{sup 211}At generator system provided high purity {sup 211}At samples. The methods are immediately scalable to the level of radioactivity required for in vivo experiments with {sup 211}At. {sup 209}At-based high energy SPECT imaging was determined suitable for pursuing image-based dosimetry in mouse tumour models. In the future, we will utilize quantitative {sup 209}At-SPECT for image-based dose calculations. Conclusion: These early studies provided a foundation for future endeavours with {sup 211}At-based α-therapy. Canada is now significantly closer to clinical targeted α-therapy of cancer.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy probe for in-situ neutron scattering measurements

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) is an efficient, nondestructive technique to study the elastic properties of solids. A low-temperature (2-300 K) probe has been assembled and tested at the NOMAD beamline at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to assess the probe's neutronic properties, data acquisition system, and compatibility with existing sample environment. A case study on a bulk metallic glass, La 65 Cu 20 Al 10 Co 5, served to benchmark both hardware and software developments. The elastic constants of the metallic glass were determined as a function of temperature between 4 and 300 K and were used to guide neutron diffraction measurements at NOMAD. Tracking of a specific RUS peak center frequency and width enabled live monitoring of the sample temperature evolution that lagged thermometry by upwards of 40 K near room temperature. Assembly of a high-temperature (300-875 K) probe is underway and both probes are scheduled to be available to users by late-2021. Our aim is to provide users with live monitoring of an intrinsic variable at the neutron scattering beamlines, in addition to existing controls, to monitor the state of their samples and its elastic moduli and make informed decisions in real time.

Torres, James↗