University of Birmingham’s High Flux Accelerator-Driven Neutron Facility receives final acceptance
Final acceptance for the use of Neutron Therapeutics’ accelerator has been received, meaning that the High Flux Accelerator-Driven Neutron Facility can now be used. This first-of-its-kind facility will enable research into the effect of neutrons in a variety of fields, including nuclear energy, nuclear science and boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).
Noah Smick, Ph.D., president and chief operating officer of Neutron Therapeutics said: "The University of Birmingham's neutron facility brings together a wide community of researchers in fields ranging from fundamental nuclear physics to nuclear materials to radiation oncology, and we are honoured to be part of this initiative.”
Capabilities of the accelerator include:
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Nominal proton current of 30 mA
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Nominal proton energy of 2.6 MeV
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Typical neutron yield of 3x10^13 primary neutrons per second
This facility is the United Kingdom’s first high-flux neutron test facility and is part of the U.K.’s National Nuclear User Facility (NNUF) program. It is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The Birmingham Energy Institute is welcoming requests for access and interested parties can submit these to energy@contacts.bham.ac.ukProfessor Martin Freer, director of the Birmingham Energy Institute (BEI) said: "This is a terrific milestone for the development of the U.K.’s portfolio of experimental facilities to support the rapidly developing nuclear energy sector with new developments associated with small-modular, advanced-modular and fusion reactors. “The High Flux Accelerator-Driven Neutron Facility is a transformational research platform which will allow a series of fundamental research questions to be addressed.”
The target monitoring system showing (centre of screen) the proton beam profile on the neutron production target for >30 mA of incident protons. The neutron production rate was in line with that expected.
