Design of back-streaming white neutron beam line at CSNS

TL;DR

This paper describes the design and physics considerations of the Back-n white neutron beam line at CSNS, supporting nuclear data measurements with a broad energy range and high performance.

Contribution

It presents the detailed physics design, optimization, and expected performance of the first high-performance white neutron source in China.

Findings

Neutron flux of 10^6 n/cm^2/s at 80m from the target

Energy spectrum spanning 1 eV to 100 MeV

Time resolution of a few per mille across the energy range

Abstract

A white neutron beam line using the back-streaming neutrons from the spallation target at China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) is under construction. Different spectrometers mainly for nuclear data measurements to be installed in the so-called Back-n beam line are also under development in phases. The physics design of the beam line includes the overview of the characteristics of the neutron beam including energy spectrum, flux and time structure, and the optimizations of neutron beam spots and in-hall background with the help of a complicated collimation system and a sophisticated neutron dump. The wide neutron energy range of 1 eV~100 MeV is very good to support different applications, especially for nuclear data measurements. At Endstation#2 where is about 80 m from the target, the main properties include neutron flux of 106 n/cm2/s, time resolution of a few per mille over almost the whole energy range, in-hall background about 0.01 /cm2/s for both neutron and gamma. With its completion in late 2017, Back-n will be not only the first high-performance white neutron source in China, but also among the best white neutron sources in the world.