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n_TOF Collaboration(Patronis, N. et al), Babiano-Suarez, V., Balibrea Correa, J., Domingo-Pardo, C., Ladarescu, I., & Lerendegui-Marco, J. (2023). Status report of the n_TOF facility after the 2nd CERN long shutdown period. EPJ Tech. Instrum., 10(1), 13–10pp.
Abstract: During the second long shutdown period of the CERN accelerator complex (LS2, 2019-2021), several upgrade activities took place at the nTOF facility. The most important have been the replacement of the spallation target with a next generation nitrogen-cooled lead target. Additionally, a new experimental area, at a very short distance from the target assembly (the NEAR Station) was established. In this paper, the core commissioning actions of the new installations are described. The improvement in the nTOF infrastructure was accompanied by several detector development projects. All these upgrade actions are discussed, focusing mostly on the future perspectives of the n_TOF facility. Furthermore, some indicative current and future measurements are briefly reported.
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Lerendegui-Marco, J., Babiano-Suarez, V., Balibrea-Correa, J., Caballero, L., Calvo, D., Ladarescu, I., et al. (2024). Simultaneous Gamma-Neutron Vision device: a portable and versatile tool for nuclear inspections. EPJ Tech. Instrum., 11(1), 2–17pp.
Abstract: This work presents GN-Vision, a novel dual gamma-ray and neutron imaging system, which aims at simultaneously obtaining information about the spatial origin of gamma-ray and neutron sources. The proposed device is based on two position sensitive detection planes and exploits the Compton imaging technique for the imaging of gamma-rays. In addition, spatial distributions of slow- and thermal-neutron sources (<100 eV) are reconstructed by using a passive neutron pin-hole collimator attached to the first detection plane. The proposed gamma-neutron imaging device could be of prime interest for nuclear safety and security applications. The two main advantages of this imaging system are its high efficiency and portability, making it well suited for nuclear applications were compactness and real-time imaging is important. This work presents the working principle and conceptual design of the GN-Vision system and explores, on the basis of Monte Carlo simulations, its simultaneous gamma-ray and neutron detection and imaging capabilities for a realistic scenario where a Cf-252 source is hidden in a neutron moderating container.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Belloni, F. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., & Tain, J. L. (2011). Neutron-induced fission cross-section of U-233 in the energy range 0.5 < E-n < 20 MeV. Eur. Phys. J. A, 47(1), 2–7pp.
Abstract: The neutron-induced fission cross-section of U-233 has been measured at the CERN nTOF facility relative to the standard fission cross-section of U-235 between 0.5 and 20MeV. The experiment was performed with a fast ionization chamber for the detection of the fission fragments and to discriminate against alpha-particles from the natural radioactivity of the samples. The high instantaneous flux and the low background of the nTOF facility result in data with uncertainties of approximate to 3%, which were found in good agreement with previous experiments. The high quality of the present results allows to improve the evaluation of the U-233(n, f) cross-section and, consequently, the design of energy systems based on the Th/U cycle.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Belloni, F. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., & Tain, J. L. (2011). Measurement of the neutron-induced fission cross-section of Am-243 relative to U-235 from 0.5 to 20 MeV. Eur. Phys. J. A, 47(12), 160–8pp.
Abstract: The ratio of the neutron-induced fission cross-sections of Am-243 and U-235 was measured in the energy range from 0.5 to 20 MeV with uncertainties of approximate to 4%. The experiment was performed at the CERN n_TOF facility using a fast ionization chamber. With the good counting statistics that could be achieved thanks to the high instantaneous flux and the low backgrounds, the present results are useful for resolving discrepancies in previous data sets and are important for future reactors with improved fuel burn-up.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Guerrero, C. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2013). Performance of the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF at CERN. Eur. Phys. J. A, 49(2), 27–15pp.
Abstract: The neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF features a white neutron source produced by spallation through 20 GeV/c protons impinging on a lead target. The facility, aiming primarily at the measurement of neutron-induced reaction cross sections, was operating at CERN between 2001 and 2004, and then underwent a major upgrade in 2008. This paper presents in detail all the characteristics of the new neutron beam in the currently available configurations, which correspond to two different collimation systems and two choices of neutron moderator. The characteristics discussed include the intensity and energy dependence of the neutron flux, the spatial profile of the beam, the in-beam background components and the energy resolution/broadening. The discussion of these features is based on dedicated measurements and Monte Carlo simulations, and includes estimations of the systematic uncertainties of the mentioned quantities.
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