FAFNIR: Strategy and risk reduction in accelerator driven neutron sources for fusion materials irradiation data

TL;DR

This paper proposes FAFNIR, a neutron source facility designed to provide fusion materials data with reduced risk and lower technological complexity compared to existing solutions like IFMIF.

Contribution

It introduces a new neutron source concept, FAFNIR, with a simplified design that aligns with updated regulatory standards for fusion materials testing.

Findings

Reduced neutron source specification compared to IFMIF

Lower risk technology solutions considered

Detailed design of accelerator and target for FAFNIR

Abstract

The need to populate the fusion materials engineering data base has long been recognized, the IFMIF facility being the present proposed neutron source for this purpose. Re-evaluation of the regulatory approach for the EU proposed DEMO device shows that the specification of the neutron source can be reduced with respect to IFMIF, allowing lower risk technology solutions to be considered. The justification for this approach is presented and a description of a proposed facility, FAFNIR, is presented with more detailed discussion of the accelerator and target designs.