Prof. Anna Simon will lead a project to develop a neutron irradiation station (NIS) at the Nuclear Science Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame. NIS will utilize a high-intensity proton beam from the 5U accelerator to produce a flux of neutrons at energies up to a few MeV via nuclear reactions on low-Z targets. First of its kind in the U.S., NIS will deliver monoenergetic neutron beams with intensities of the order of 108 neutrons/sec/cm2 for fundamental and applied nuclear physics research and material analysis. The facility will be utilized for measurements of neutron-induced reactions on materials relevant for new reactor concepts with the goal of delivering high-accuracy cross section data. It will also be used for testing of a variety of materials including thin-film foils and novel reactor fuel materials, crucial for future reactor research programs and development of new reactor technologies.
The DOE NEUP Infrastructure Grants provide funding to support crosscutting nuclear energy research and development (R&D), and associated infrastructure support activities, to develop innovative technologies that offer the promise of dramatically improved performance for advanced reactors and fuel cycle concepts, while maximizing the use of DOE resources.
A complete list of awards for FY 2021 can be found at: https://neup.inl.gov/SitePages/FY21_Infrastructure_Awards.aspx
Originally published by at isnap.nd.edu on August 30, 2021.