Nuclear astrophysics and radiotherapy prospects with a liquid-lithium accelerator-based neutron source
27.02.2017
Date | 27.02.2017 |
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Time | 11:00 |
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Speaker | Michael Paul |
Area of expertise | Physics |
Host | Dep. Physik |
Contact | |
Abstract | Neutron physics plays a central role in science and technology and the advent of high- intensity accelerators open possible avenues for neutron production modes alternative to nuclear reactors. We describe experiments performed with the milliAmpere- proton beam (2- 4 kW) from the Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF) and the Liquid- Lithium Target (LiLiT), yielding high- intensity 30- keV quasi -Maxwellian neutrons (3- 5×10 10 n/s). The setup is applied to the study of astrophysical neutron- induced reactions w hich remain at the forefront of experimental investigations of stellar nucleosynthesis and chemical evolution of the Galaxy. α, β, γ spectrometry and atom -counting techniques (accelerator mass spectrometry, magneto- optical trap trace analysis) are used to detect activation products. We pursue in parallel the development of a prototype neutron source for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), based on a high- intensity proton accelerator and a liquid- lithium target. |