HISPANoS: pulsed and continuous neutron source at CNA

HISPANoS, from Hispalis Neutron Source, is the first accelerator based neutron source (pulsed and continuous wave) in Spain. Its implementation has allowed expanding the research lines already developed with charged particles and photons at CNA. The main research application of the new neutron source are related to astrophysics, medical physics, detector characterization, electrical devices irradiation for aerospace purposes, neutron radiography, among others. 

From accelerated beams of protons and deuterons up to 10 µA and maximum energy of 6 MeV, thermal, epithermal and fast neutrons can be produced by different reactions in lithium target (thin and thick), deuterium (thin) and beryllium (thick) targets. Regarding detection systems, there are:

-Organic scintillator (EJ-400 y EJ-301 types) sensitive to fast neutrons and neutron/gamma discrimination capability,

-Lithium-6 glass for thermal and epithermal neutron detection,

-Gamma radiation detectors (HPGe, LaBr₃ y NaI).

The recent upgrade of the 3 MV tandem accelerator includes a new experimental line dedicated to neutron time of flight (ToF) measurements. Pulsed neutron beams are delivered from pulsed charge particles beams, combining two devices:

-Chopper: it deflects continuous beam allowing the passage of pulses with a temporal width between 40 and 250 ns at a variable frequency between 32.2 kHz to 2 MHz.

-Buncher: it compresses the 40 ns pulses width produced by the chopper to 1-2 ns pulses width.

Access:

Experiments proposals must be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. following the instructions available in: http://institucionales.us.es/solicitudescna/index.php/en/information-and-documents-for-use-of-accelerators/32-template-for-use

Transnational Access:

HISPANoS facility belongs to ARIEL Project (H2020-Euratom- 847594) and therefore access and use costs can be financed if the proposals are accepted.

Contact:

Dra. Begoña Fernández (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Dr. Carlos Guerrero (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Dr. Javier Praena (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

References (experiments at HISPANoS Line):

-Macías M., Fernández B., Labrador J.A., Romero A. and Praena J. (2019). Nanosecond pulsed proton beam: upgrade of the accelerator-based neutron facility HiSPANOS at CNA (Spain). arXiv:1906.05716

-Jiménez-Bonilla, P.J. (2018). Experimentos de activación en astrofísica nuclear para la medida de secciones eficaces estelares de captura de neutrones: revisión del método y medida experimental de la sección eficaz estelar de la reacción. (Tesis Doctoral Inédita). Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla. https://hdl.handle.net/11441/73731

-Malagon D., Jimenez-Ramos M.C., Garcia-Lopez F.J., Bota S., Torrens G., et. al. (2017). Soft error rate comparison of 6T and 8T SRAM ICs using mono-energetic proton and neutron irradiation sources. Microelectronics Reliability. 2017. Vol. 78. Pag. 38-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.microrel.2017.07.093

-Irazola L., Sanchez-Doblado F., Praena-Rodriguez, J., Fernández B., Macías, Miguel, et. al. (2016). Using a Tandem Pelletron accelerator to produce a thermal neutron beam for detector testing purposes. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 2016. 107. Pag. 330-334. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.11.020

-Praena Rodriguez J., Mastinu, P. F., Pignatari M., Quesada-Molina, J. M., Capote-Noy R. et. al. (2014). Measurement of the MACS of ¹⁵⁹Tb(n,g) at kT = 30 keV by Activation. Nuclear Data Sheets. 2014. Vol. 120. Pag. 205-207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nds.2014.07.047