Radioisotope production at SNS (RIPS)

A unique opportunity exists to investigate alternative radionuclide production technologies utilizing the high-energy proton beams available at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The Second Target Station (STS) is being built to address emerging science challenges in energy, security, and transportation. The STS will complement the capabilities of the First Target Station (FTS) and High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) by filling gaps in materials research that require the combined use of intense, long-wavelength (cold) neutrons, and instruments that are optimized for exploration of complex materials. The construction of the STS beamline to the target also presents an opportunity to capitalize on additional applications, such as the production of high-demand radioisotopes for medical applications. Work began in 2024 to investigate the possibility of Radioisotope Production at SNS (RIPS) through four main goals: (1) identification of isotopes of interest through the modeling and simulation of prospective irradiation parameters and target compositions, (2) development of a target design concept that can receive high energy beam pulses from the SNS accelerator, (3) identification of enhanced isotope separation methods for SNS produced radionuclides, and (4) a design concept for an experimental/demonstration facility. An overview of the project and progress towards achieving these goals will be presented.