Radiochemical separation of 7Be from the cooling water of the neutron spallation source SINQ at PSI

Summary 7Be is a key radionuclide for investigation of several astrophysical processes and phenomena. In addition, it is used as a tracer in wear measurements. It is produced in considerable amounts in the cooling water (D2O) of the Spallation Induced Neutron Source (SINQ) facility at PSI by spallation reactions on 16O with the generated fast neutrons. A shielded ion-exchange filter containing 100 mL of the mixed-bed ion exchanger LEWATIT was installed as a bypass for the cooling water into the cooling loop of SINQ for three months. The collected activity of 7Be was in the range of several hundred GBq. Further, the 7Be was separated and purified in a hot-cell remotely-controlled using a separation system installed. With the exception of 10Be, radioactive byproducts can be neglected, so that this cooling water could serve as an ideal source for highly active 7Be-samples. The facility is capable of producing 7Be with activities up to 1 TBq per year. The 7Be sample preparation is described in detail and the possible uses are discussed. In particular some preliminary results of 7Be ion beam production are presented.

Download Full-text

Design of the third-generation neutron spallation target for the CERN’s n_TOF facility

Journal of Neutron Research ◽

10.3233/jnr-190137 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (2-3) ◽

pp. 221-231

Author(s):

Raffaele Esposito ◽

Marco Calviani

Keyword(s):

Particle Physics ◽

Cooling Water ◽

Nuclear Astrophysics ◽

Lead Target ◽

Third Generation ◽

Spallation Target ◽

Neutron Spallation Source ◽

European Laboratory ◽

Neutron Time ◽

Spallation Source

The neutron Time-Of-Flight (n_TOF) facility at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) is a pulsed white-spectrum neutron spallation source producing neutrons for two experimental areas: EAR1, located 185 m downstream of the spallation target, and EAR2, located 20 m above the target. The facility is based on a lead target impacted by a high-intensity 20 GeV/c proton beam. It is designed to study neutron-nucleus interactions for neutron kinetic energies from a few meV to several GeV, with applications in nuclear astrophysics, nuclear technology, and medical research. The facility is undergoing a major upgrade in 2019–2020, which will include the installation of the new third-generation target. The second-generation target consists in a water-cooled lead cylinder, while the new target will be cooled by nitrogen to avoid erosion-corrosion phenomena and contamination of the cooling water with radioactive lead spallation products. The new design will be optimized also for the vertical flight path. The operation of the new spallation target will start in 2021. This paper presents an overview on the evolution of the design and on the related R&D activities (including beam irradiation tests) carried out to ensure the best performance for both experimental areas and avoid the contamination issues of the previous targets.

Download Full-text

Status report of stable and radioactive ion beam production at GANIL

Review of Scientific Instruments ◽

10.1063/1.2801677 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 79 (2) ◽

pp. 02A309 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G. Gaubert ◽

C. Barué ◽

C. Canet ◽

J. C. Cornell ◽

M. Dubois ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ion Beam ◽

Status Report ◽

Radioactive Ion Beam ◽

Beam Production

Download Full-text

Mechanical Spectroscopy Investigation of Liquid Pb-Bi Alloys

Solid State Phenomena ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/ssp.184.434 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 184 ◽

pp. 434-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Roberto Montanari ◽

Alessandra Varone

Keyword(s):

Distribution Functions ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Mechanical Spectroscopy ◽

X Ray ◽

Neutron Spallation Source ◽

Driven System ◽

Spallation Source ◽

Accelerator Driven System ◽

The Mean ◽

Diffraction Patterns

Liquid Pb–Bi eutectic alloy has been selected as coolant and neutron spallation source for the development of MYRRHA, an accelerator driven system. The alloy has been characterized in liquid state from melting (125 °C) to 650 °C by mechanical spectroscopy. Experiments have been carried out using hollow reeds of austenitic stainless steel filled with the Pb-Bi alloy and sealed at the extremities. From 350 °C to 520 °C modulus shows a remarkable drop accompanied by a broad internal friction maximum. In the same temperature range radial distribution functions, determined from X-ray diffraction patterns, evidenced variations of the mean distance between the 1st nearest neighbour atoms. The anelastic phenomena have been attributed to a structural re-arrangement of liquid metal. For comparison, other alloys of the Pb-Bi system with hypo-eutectic composition have been investigated.

Download Full-text

Optical spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for metal ion beam production with an ECRIS

Review of Scientific Instruments ◽

10.1063/1.5127571 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 90 (12) ◽

pp. 123108

Author(s):

F. Maimone ◽

J. Mäder ◽

R. Lang ◽

P. T. Patchakui ◽

K. Tinschert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Spectroscopy ◽

Diagnostic Tool ◽

Metal Ion ◽

Ion Beam ◽

Beam Production

Download Full-text

4D Bragg Edge Tomography of Directional Ice Templated Graphite Electrodes

Journal of Imaging ◽

10.3390/jimaging6120136 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (12) ◽

pp. 136

Author(s):

Ralf F. Ziesche ◽

Anton S. Tremsin ◽

Chun Huang ◽

Chun Tan ◽

Patrick S. Grant ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Li Ion Battery ◽

Graphite Electrodes ◽

Neutron Spallation Source ◽

Spallation Source ◽

Li Ion ◽

Tomography Method ◽

First Time ◽

Pulsed Neutron ◽

Tomography Data ◽

Insight Into

Bragg edge tomography was carried out on novel, ultra-thick, directional ice templated graphite electrodes for Li-ion battery cells to visualise the distribution of graphite and stable lithiation phases, namely LiC12 and LiC6. The four-dimensional Bragg edge, wavelength-resolved neutron tomography technique allowed the investigation of the crystallographic lithiation states and comparison with the electrode state of charge. The tomographic imaging technique provided insight into the crystallographic changes during de-/lithiation over the electrode thickness by mapping the attenuation curves and Bragg edge parameters with a spatial resolution of approximately 300 µm. This feasibility study was performed on the IMAT beamline at the ISIS pulsed neutron spallation source, UK, and was the first time the 4D Bragg edge tomography method was applied to Li-ion battery electrodes. The utility of the technique was further enhanced by correlation with corresponding X-ray tomography data obtained at the Diamond Light Source, UK.

Download Full-text