Measurement and Monte Carlo simulation of steel and copper activation at the CHARM and CSBF facilities at CERN

Prediction of residual radiation levels in particle accelerator facilities is crucial to ensure their safe and continuous operation over long periods of time. At the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), radiological characterization studies of activated components in experimental areas and various machines within the accelerator complex are performed with Monte Carlo radiation transport codes. To ensure the accuracy of the calculations, a comparison with the experimental data is crucial. This work investigates the induced radioactivity in selected materials commonly used in particle accelerator elements and high-energy physics detector components. Conducted at the CERN High-energy AcceleRator Mixed-field (CHARM) facility, the activation experiments focused in particular on copper and two steel alloys and the medium- to long-lived radionuclides ( 54 Mn, 57 Co, 58 Co, and 60 Co) produced within them. FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations were performed and the comparison with the experimental data showed a satisfactory agreement. • Study of activation in materials used in high-energy particle accelerators. • Experiments conducted at the CHARM and CSBF facilities at CERN. • FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations performed to predict the radionuclide inventories. • Experimental results validate simulations for radiation protection in accelerators.