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Two-Step Target for Fission Product Radioactive Beam Production--TechSource, Inc., P.O. Box 31057, Santa Fe, NM  87594-1057; 505-988-1726

Dr. Willard L. Talbert, Principal Investigator, willtalb@aol.com 

Mr. Pierre Grand, Business Official, pgrand@attglobal.net 

DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-01ER83314

Amount:  $750,000

The production of intense fission product radioactive beams used for nuclear physics research requires special target approaches.  One such approach is that of a two-step target, in which an energetic, intense light-ion beam strikes a cooled heavy metal target to create neutrons, and the neutrons cause fissions in a surrounding blanket to make the fission products.  However, such a target has not been demonstrated to work using an intense production of light ions.  This project will construct a prototype two-step target and demonstrate the efficacy of the concept.  Phase I produced a numerical analysis of a two-step target, defining the dimensions and constituents of a prototype target.  The analysis included estimates of neutron production, fission rates, and energy deposition in the primary and secondary targets.  This was followed by a thermal analysis using finite element approaches to devise cooling strategies for the primary target and thermal control approaches for the secondary target.  Phase II will demonstrate the efficacy of a prototype two-step target using an intense production beam.  The analyses of the thermal performances of the target components from the Phase I study will be extended, and a prototype test target will be designed in detail, fabricated, and integrated into a test configuration at the TRIUMF accelerator. 

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  This technology should lead to the commercial provision of targets for intense radioactive beam facilities, including the new nuclear physics initiative, the Rare Isotope Accelerator.