Speakers
Cristian Massimi
(BO)
Federica Mingrone
(CERN)
Description
In 2002 the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF started its operation
at CERN using a 185-m beam line. After a series of successful
measurement campaigns, a second beam line, at 18.5 m from the
neutron-producing target, was built in 2014. The two lines provide
an excellent combination of good energy resolution and high
instantaneous neutron flux. The latter feature results in a much
enhanced signal to background ratio for neutron-induced reactions
on small mass radioactive isotopes and/or isotopes with very small
cross sections.
Neutrons are created by spallation reactions induced by a
pulsed 20 GeV/c proton beam impinging on a lead target. Two layers
of water and borated water, respectively, surrounding the lead
target, act as a coolant and at the same time as a moderator of the
initially fast neutron spectrum, providing a wide neutron-energy
spectrum ranging from the meV to the GeV region.
The innovative features of the facility have been complemented
by a wealth of high-performance detection systems for fission,
capture, and reactions involving charged particles in the exit channel.
So far, a large number of experiments has been performed on a
variety of isotopes of interest for nuclear astrophysics, advanced
nuclear technologies, nuclear medicine, and for basic nuclear physics.
After the CERN long shutdown, a new phase of data taking is
planned to start in 2021. The R&D of a new spallation target is
ongoing and its upgrade will bring important improvements in both
beam lines, eventually allowing the n_TOF Collaboration to perform
new, challenging measurements.
In this talk, the status of the n_TOF facility will be presented
together with an outlook on future opportunities.
Selected session
Accelerators and Instrumentation
Primary authors
Cristian Massimi
(BO)
Federica Mingrone
(CERN)
Co-author
The n_TOF Collaboration
(cern.ch)
