International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Research Applications and Utilization of Accelerators

4-8 May 2009, Vienna

Proton LINAC for the Frankfurt Neutron Source FRANZ

O.M. Meusel¹, A. Bechtold¹, L.P. Chau¹, M. Heilmann¹, H. Podlech¹, U. Ratzinger¹, A. Schempp¹, C. Wiesner¹, S. Schmidt¹, K. Volk¹, M. Heil², R. Plag², R. Reifarth², K. Stiebing³, J. Stroth³, F. Käppeler⁴, and D. Petrich⁴

¹Institut for Applied Physics, Frankfurt, Germany
²GSI, Darmstadt, Germany
³IKF, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
⁴IKF, FZ Karlsruhe, Germany

Corresponding Author: o.meusel@iap.uni-frankfurt.de

The Frankfurt Neutron Source at Stern - Gerlach - Centre will use the ⁷Li(p, n) reaction to produce a intense neutron beam. The planned experiments require a variable neutron energy between 10 and 500 keV. Hence the energy of primary proton beam should be adjustable between 1.8 MeV and 2.2 MeV.

The FRANZ beam line consists of two branches to allow different methods of neutron capture
measurements. The compressor mode offer time of flight measurements in combination with a 4π BaF₂ detector array. The proton beam of about 150 mA will be compressed to a 1 ns pulse with a peak current of about 8 A at the repetition rate of 250 kHz. The activation mode uses a continuous neutron flux. The primary cw proton beam with a low current up to 30 mA will be focussed onto the production target.

FRANZ is not only a neutron generator but also a test bench for new accelerator and diagnostic concepts for intense ion beams. The planned proton beam properties on the target leads into a challenge accelerator design to overcome the space charge forces. This presentation emphasises on the ongoing construction of the proton injector.

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