AbstractAn intense DT neutron source which is envisaged as an extension of the existing technology of a neutron generator, such as FNS and RTNS-II, and the test conditions to be performed with its field, are investigated for fusion nuclear irradiation tests. Those tests are performed for fusion reactor components, i.e., tritium self-sufficiency and nuclear heating performance of a blanket, radiation hardening and shielding of instrumentation and equipment. The accelerator-based source is very useful to avoid complicated handling and operation, such as excessive radiation hazards created by activated materials, compared with a plasma device. It suggests that a large area target source with a high current and a broad beam is suitable for these nuclear tests from the viewpoint of fluence and flux requirements. This source can provide a large testing volume of about 0.007 m3 with the flux over 1012 n/cm2/s. This flux, corresponding to a neutron wall load of 0.02 MW/m2, is appropriate to confirm the scaling law of irradiation effects in the wall load of 1–10 MW/m2 for a fusion demonstration reactor.
A volumetric neutron source for fusion nuclear technology testing and development