Neutron shielding optimization studies
Author(s)
Bungau, Adriana; Barlow, Roger; Shaevitz, Michael; Bartoszek, Larry; Alonso, Jose Ramon; Conrad, Janet Marie; ... Show more Show less
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The IsoDAR sterile-neutrino search calls for a high neutron flux from a 60 MeV proton beam striking a beryllium target, that flood a sleeve of highly-enriched 7Li, the beta-decay of the resulting 8Li giving the desired neutrinos for the very-short-baseline experiment. The target is placed very close to an existing large neutrino detector; all such existing or planned detectors are deep underground, in low-background environments. It is necessary to design a shielding enclosure to prevent neutrons from causing unacceptable activation of the environment. GEANT4 is being used to study neutron attenuation, and optimizing the layers of shielding material to minimize thickness. Materials being studied include iron and two new types of concrete developed by Jefferson Laboratory, one very light with shredded plastic aggregate, the other with high quantities of boron. Initial studies indicate that a total shielding thickness of 1.5 meters produces the required attenuation factor, further studies may allow decrease in thickness. Minimizing it will reduce the amount of cavity excavation needed to house the target system in confined underground spaces.
Date issued
2015-05Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Laboratory for Nuclear ScienceJournal
Proceedings of the 6th International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC2015)
Publisher
International Particle Accelerator Conference
Citation
Bungau, Adriana, Roger Barlow, Michael Shaevitz, Jose Alonso, Larry Bartoszek and Janet Conrad. "Neutron Shielding Optimization Studies." Proceedings of IPAC2015, Richmond, VA, USA, pp. 2282-2284.
Version: Final published version
ISBN
978-3-95450-168-7