JASMIN: Japanese-American study of muon interactions and neutron detection

TL;DR

This paper reports on collaborative experimental research at FNAL involving muon interactions and neutron detection, aiming to benchmark simulation codes and improve understanding of radiation effects for high-energy accelerator design.

Contribution

It presents new experimental data and analysis for benchmarking and refining radiation simulation codes like PHITS and MARS15 at proton energies above 100 GeV.

Findings

Benchmarking of PHITS and MARS15 codes with experimental data

Development of improved radiation effect models

Measurement of nuclear and shielding data at 120 GeV proton beams

Abstract

Experimental studies of shielding and radiation effects at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) have been carried out under collaboration between FNAL and Japan, aiming at benchmarking of simulation codes and study of irradiation effects for upgrade and design of new high-energy accelerator facilities. The purposes of this collaboration are (1) acquisition of shielding data in a proton beam energy domain above 100 GeV; (2) further evaluation of predictive accuracy of the PHITS and MARS codes; (3) modification of physics models and data in these codes if needed; (4) establishment of irradiation field for radiation effect tests; and (5) development of a code module for improved description of radiation effects. A series of experiments has been performed at the Pbar target station and NuMI facility, using irradiation of targets with 120 GeV protons for antiproton and neutrino production, as well as the M-test beam line (M-test) for measuring nuclear data and detector responses. Various nuclear and shielding data have been measured by activation methods with chemical separation techniques as well as by other detectors such as a Bonner ball counter. Analyses with the experimental data are in progress for benchmarking the PHITS and MARS15 codes. In this presentation recent activities and results are reviewed.