Thermal and structural stability of medium energy target carrier assembly for NOvA at Fermilab

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the thermal and structural stability of the medium energy target carrier assembly for the NOvA project at Fermilab, focusing on the effects of proton beam energy deposition and the stability of critical components.

Contribution

It provides detailed finite element thermal and structural analysis of the target carrier assembly, including the beryllium windows, for the upgraded NOvA beamline.

Findings

Thermal stability of the target assembly under high beam power.

Structural integrity of the target carrier and beryllium windows.

Insights into alignment and operational safety considerations.

Abstract

The NO{\nu}A project will upgrade the existing Neutrino at Main Injector (NuMI) project beamline at Fermilab to accommodate beam power of 700 kW. The Medium Energy (ME) graphite target assembly is provided through an accord with the State Research Center of Russia Institute for High Energy Physics (IHEP) at Protvino, Russia. The effects of proton beam energy deposition within beamline components are considered as thermal stability of the target carrier assembly and alignment budget are critical operational issues. Results of finite element thermal and structural analysis involving the target carrier assembly is provided with detail regarding the target's beryllium windows.