Current status and upgrading strategies of J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) and related components

Teshigawara, Makoto; Nakamura, Mitsutaka; Kinsho, Michikazu; Soyama, Kazuhiko

JAEA-Technology 2021-022, 208 Pages, 2022/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-022.pdf:14.28MB

The Materials and Life science experimental Facility (MLF) is an accelerator driven pulsed spallation neutron and muon source with a 1 MW proton beam. The construction began in 2004, and we started beam operation in 2008. Although problems such as exudation of cooling water from the target container have occurred, as of April 2021, the proton beam power has reached up to 700 kW gradually, and stable operation is being performed. In recent years, the operation experience of the rated 1 MW has been steadily accumulated. Several issues such as the durability of the target container have been revealed according to the increase in the operation time. Aiming at making a further improvement of MLF, we summarized the current status of achievements for the design values, such as accelerator technology (LINAC and RCS), neutron and muon source technology, beam transportation of these particles, detection technology, and neutron and muon instruments. Based on the analysis of the current status, we tried to extract improvement points for upgrade of MLF. Through these works, we will raise new proposals that promote the upgrade of MLF, attracting young people. We would like to lead to the further success of researchers and engineers who will lead the next generation.

Neutron spectrum change with thermal moderator temperature in a compact electron accelerator-driven neutron source and its effects on spectroscopic neutron transmission imaging

Ishikawa, Hirotaku*; Kai, Tetsuya; Sato, Hirotaka*; Kamiyama, Takashi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(2), p.221 - 227, 2019/02

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2018.1561339

Fundamental aspects of neutron moderators and neutron beam optics for designing high intensity laser-driven neutron source

Ikeda, Yujiro; Shimizu, Hirohiko*

Reza Kenkyu, 46(11), p.641 - 646, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.2184/lsj.46.11_641

In viewing significant progresses in technical achievement toward a high-intensity neutron source driven by a high-power laser came up with the high power laser development, we have reviewed the currently most advanced moderator system and neutron optics, which are the key elements for the neutron beam applications. Regarding the moderators, concepts adopted in J-PARC pulsed neutron source, which is one of most advanced system, were described to give a baseline design. Also a new direction of moderator concept is shown, which could be a high brightness candidate for the high-intensity laser driven system. On the neutron optics, the most fundamental consideration is primarily reviewed along with recent progress in new devises for enrichment of neutron-beam characteristics.

Present fabrication status of spare moderators and reflector in J-PARC spallation neutron source

Teshigawara, Makoto; Harada, Masahide; Oi, Motoki; Takada, Hiroshi

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 1021(1), p.012061_1 - 012061_4, 2018/06

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1021/1/012061

At the spallation neutron source of J-PARC, the structural material of moderators and reflector, such as an aluminum alloy, is going to reach to the design value (20 DPA) around 2020 by an accumulation of irradiation-damage. We started the fabrication of the spare moderators and reflector in 2013 with following design of two improvements. The invar joints, such as invar-A6061 and invar- SS316L joints were newly developed to utilize them in the cryogenic multi-layered pipe with 5th annular geometry, improving the fabrication procedure much simple. The Gold-Indium-Cadmium (Au-In-Cd) as a decoupler material is also developed to reduce residual radioactivity of the used components significantly for the decoupled moderator. In this presentation, we will report these results and progress of fabrication.

Current status of the high intensity pulsed spallation neutron source at J-PARC

Takada, Hiroshi

Plasma and Fusion Research (Internet), 13(Sp.1), p.2505013_1 - 2505013_8, 2018/03

http://www.jspf.or.jp/PFR/PFR_articles/pfr2018/pfr2018_13-2505013.html

The pulsed spallation neutron source of Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) has been supplying users with high intensity and sharp pulse cold neutrons using the moderators with following distinctive features; (1) 100% para-hydrogen for increasing pulse peak intensity with decreasing pulse tail, (2) cylindrical shape with 14 cm diam.12 cm long for providing high intensity neutrons to wide neutron extraction angles of 50.8, (3) neutron absorber made from Ag-In-Cd alloy to make pulse width narrower and pulse tails lower. Actually, it was measured at a low power operation that high neutron intensity of 4.510 n/cm/s/sr could be emitted from the coupled moderator surface for 1-MW operation, and a superior resolution of d/d = 0.035% was achieved at a beamline (BL8) with a poisoned moderator, where d is the d-spacing of reflection. Towards the goal to achieve the target operation at 1-MW for 5000 h in a year, technical developments to mitigate cavitation damages on the target vessel with injecting gas micro-bubbles into mercury target and design improvement of target vessel structure to reducing welds and bolt connections as much as possible are under way.

Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, 1; Pulsed spallation neutron source

Takada, Hiroshi; Haga, Katsuhiro; Teshigawara, Makoto; Aso, Tomokazu; Meigo, Shinichiro; Kogawa, Hiroyuki; Naoe, Takashi; Wakui, Takashi; Oi, Motoki; Harada, Masahide; et al.

Quantum Beam Science (Internet), 1(2), p.8_1 - 8_26, 2017/09

https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs1020008

At the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), a pulsed spallation neutron source provides neutrons with high intensity and narrow pulse width to promote researches on a variety of science in the Materials and life science experimental facility. It was designed to be driven by the proton beam with an energy of 3 GeV, a power of 1 MW at a repetition rate of 25 Hz, that is world's highest power level. A mercury target and three types of liquid para-hydrogen moderators are core components of the spallation neutron source. It is still on the way towards the goal to accomplish the operation with a 1 MW proton beam. In this paper, distinctive features of the target-moderator-reflector system of the pulsed spallation neutron source are reviewed.

Development of aluminum (Al5083)-clad ternary Ag-In-Cd alloy for JSNS decoupled moderator

Teshigawara, Makoto; Harada, Masahide; Saito, Shigeru; Oikawa, Kenichi; Maekawa, Fujio; Futakawa, Masatoshi; Kikuchi, Kenji; Kato, Takashi; Ikeda, Yujiro; Naoe, Takashi*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 356(1-3), p.300 - 307, 2006/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2006.05.017

We adopted silver-indium-cadmium (Ag-In-Cd) alloy as a material of decoupler for decoupled moderator in JSNS. However, from the heat removal and corrosion protection points of view, the Ag-In-Cd alloy is needed to clad between Al alloys (Al5083). We attempted to obtain good bonding conditions for between Al5083 and ternary Ag-In-Cd alloys by HIPing tests. The good HIP condition was found for small test piece (20mm). Though a hardened layer due to the formation of AlAg was found in the bonding layer, the rupture strength of the bonding layer was more than 20 MPa, which was the calculated design stress. Bonding tests of a large size piece (20020030 mm), which simulated the real scale, were also performed according to the results of small size tests. The result also gave good bonding and enough required-mechanical-strength, however the rupture strength of the large size test was smaller than that of small one.

Neutron facility at high intensity proton accelerator project

Oyama, Yukio; Ikeda, Yujiro

Hoshasen To Sangyo, (107), p.45 - 51, 2005/09

http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/40006907687

JAERI and KEK are jointly conducting high intensity proton accelerator project (J-PARC). The outline of the J-PARC project and a design concept of the neutron source facility at J-PARC are described in detail.

Cladding technique for development of Ag-In-Cd decoupler

Teshigawara, Makoto; Harada, Masahide; Saito, Shigeru; Kikuchi, Kenji; Kogawa, Hiroyuki; Ikeda, Yujiro; Kawai, Masayoshi*; Kurishita, Hiroaki*; Konashi, Kenji*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 343(1-3), p.154 - 162, 2005/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.08.036

For decoupled and poisoned moderator, a thermal neutron absorber, i.e., decoupler, is located around the moderator to give neutron beam with a short decay time. A B4C decoupler is already utilized, however, it is difficult to use in a MW class source because of He void swelling and local heating by (n,a) reaction. Therefore, a Ag-In-Cd (AIC) alloy which gives energy-dependence of macroscopic neutron cross section like that of BC was chosen. However, from heat removal and corrosion protection points of view, AIC is needed to bond between an Al alloy (A6061-T6), which is the structural material of a moderator. An AIC plate is divided into a Ag-In (15wt%) and Ag-Cd (35wt%) plate to extend the life time, shorten by burn up of Cd. We performed bonding tests by HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing). We found out that a better HIP condition was holding at 803 K, 100 MPa for 1 h for small test pieces (f20mm). Though a hardened layer is found in the bonding layer, the rupture strength of the bonding layer is more than 20 MPa, which is less than that of the design stress.

Design of a single moderator-type neutron spectrometer with enhanced energy resolution in energy range from a few to 100 keV

Tanimura, Yoshihiko; Saegusa, Jun; Yoshizawa, Michio; Yoshida, Makoto

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 547(2-3), p.592 - 600, 2005/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2005.03.162

The moderator structure of a neutron spectrometer was optimized with a Monte Carlo code of MCNP-4B. The spectrometer consists of a cylindrical moderator and a position-sensitive thermal neutron detector. It can obtain an energy spectrum from thermal neutron distribution along the cylindrical axis of the moderator. The structure of the moderator was improved by putting a low hydrogen density material in the front of a high hydrogen density one and inserting a neutron absorber which eliminated thermal neutrons diffusing in the moderator. These improvements make energy resolution of the spectrometer better especially for the low energy neutrons from a few tens to 100 keV. The designed spectrometer can be applied to the measurement of energy spectrum over a neutron energy range from a few keV to 20 MeV.