High Current Accelerator-driven Neutron Sources - The HBS project for a next generation neutron facility

<ns3:p>Background Research with neutrons is usually related to the use of fission-based research reactors or neutron spallation sources to offer neutron beams for science and industry. In recent years a novel way for the production of brilliant cold, thermal, and epithermal neutron beams has emerged with the availability of high current proton accelerator systems. These “High-Current Accelerator-driven Neutron Sources” (HiCANS) offer pulsed neutron beams with high peak brilliance close to present day neutron sources. Methods A project was launched at the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science for the development, design and demonstration of such an innovative high-current accelerator driven neutron source termed “High-Brilliance neutron Source” (HBS). The aim of the project is to construct a scalable neutron source as a user facility. The basic technical components consist of i) a high current proton accelerator with a proton energy below 100 MeV, ii) a compact neutron target, moderator and reflector unit and iii) a neutron extracting, and transport system optimized for neutron beams with high brilliance to serve a suite of high performing instruments with epithermal, thermal and cold neutrons for various applications. Results and Conclusions The HBS project will offer open access and services to the various and changing demands the scientific and also the industrial community asks for. The project offers flexible solutions to a broadest scale of applications in science and industry. The conceptual design of HBS as well as the technical design was published recently in a series of reports as blueprint of a HiCANS facility. HBS will complement and develop further the landscape of high-end neutron facilities in Europe. In addition, HBS will allow intense training and preparation for experiments at the highest level at flagship European neutron sources such as the ILL or, in the future, at the ESS.</ns3:p>