Big Karl Experimental Area

The High Brilliance neutron Source (HBS) project develops a compact accelerator-driven neutron source based on a tantalum target and a 70 MeV, 100 mA proton linear accelerator. The target / moderator / reflector (TMR) assembly is designed to withstand a power deposition of 100 kW at the target position and to direct the moderated neutrons in an efficient way to the instruments. It is therefore built in a very compact way but also allowing simultaneously a remote handling of the activated target and a way to access the core for maintenance and inspections. In order to test all components and the whole TMR, we are currently designing a TMR prototype at the JULIC cyclotron which operates at 45 MeV proton energy with a beam current of up to 10 µA and an adjustable pulse structure. The setup allows to test the TMR for its expected nucleonic performance and to validate the MCNP simulation. With an expected neutron yield of the tantalum target in the order of 1011 n/s, the operation of basic instruments like e.g. a reflectometer, a SANS or a PGNAA instrument can be envisioned. During the workshop, I will show the TMR prototype concept as well as the plans we have for the Big Karl experimental area in which the TMR prototype is being build