The Israeli National Nuclear Forensics Laboratory (INNFL) investigated four unknown samples during the Collaborative Material Exercise 7 (CMX-7). The samples, identified as depleted uranium, were marked ES-1 to ES-4. ES-2 isotopic composition (0.200 ± 0.004

The neutron capture cross sections of several unstable nuclides acting as branching points in the s process are crucial for stellar nucleosynthesis studies. The unstable ^{171}Tm (t_{1/2}=1.92  yr) is part of the branching around mass A∼170 but its neutron capture cross section as a function of the neutron energy is not known to date. In this work, following the production for the first time of more than 5 mg of ^{171}Tm at the high-flux reactor Institut Laue-Langevin in France, a sample was produced at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. Two complementary experiments were carried out at the neutron time-of-flight facility (n_TOF) at CERN in Switzerland and at the SARAF liquid lithium target facility at Soreq Nuclear Research Center in Israel by time of flight and activation, respectively. The result of the time-of-flight experiment consists of the first ever set of resonance parameters and the corresponding average resonance parameters, allowing us to make an estimation of the Maxwellian-averaged cross sections (MACS) by extrapolation. The activation measurement provides a direct and more precise measurement of the MACS at 30 keV: 384(40) mb, with which the estimation from the n_TOF data agree at the limit of 1 standard deviation. This value is 2.6 times lower than the JEFF-3.3 and ENDF/B-VIII evaluations, 25% lower than that of the Bao et al. compilation, and 1.6 times larger than the value recommended in the KADoNiS (v1) database, based on the only previous experiment. Our result affects the nucleosynthesis at the A∼170 branching, namely, the ^{171}Yb abundance increases in the material lost by asymptotic giant branch stars, providing a better match to the available pre-solar SiC grain measurements compared to the calculations based on the current JEFF-3.3 model-based evaluation.

Neutrons play a dominant role in the stellar nucleosynthesis of heavy elements and the quest for accurate experimental determinations of neutron-induced reaction cross sections becomes more stringent with the refinement of nuclear and astrophysical models. We review here an experimental nuclear-astrophysics program using a high-intensity neutron source based on the 7Li(p, n)7Be reaction with a Liquid-Lithium Target (LiLiT) at the Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF) Phase I. The quasi-Maxwellian neutron spectrum with effective thermal energy $ kT \approx 30$ keV, characteristic of the thick-target 7Li(p, n) yield at proton energy $ E_p \approx 1.92$ MeV close to its neutron threshold, is well suited for laboratory measurements of neutron capture reactions along the astrophysical s -process path. The high-intensity proton beam (in the mA range) of SARAF and the high power (few kW) dissipation of LiLiT result in the most intense source of neutrons available today at stellar-like energies. The principle, design and properties of the LiLiT device and recent measurements of Maxwellian Averaged Cross Sections (MACS) based on activation of targets of astrophysical interest are described. Decay counting or atom counting methods (accelerator mass spectrometry, atom-trap trace analysis) are used for the detection of short-lived or long-lived activation products, respectively. In a different realm of applications, the 7Li(p, n) reaction is a leading candidate as an accelerator-based neutron source for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). The high neutron yield achievable from a liquid-lithium target, its sustainability of operation under kW-power incident beams and the recent availability of small-size high-intensity accelerators are compatible with a hospital-based clinical facility. An effort towards the characterization and realization of a liquid-lithium target for BNCT is reviewed. Perspectives of pending and future developments towards SARAF Phase II, based on a 40MeV, 5mA CW proton/deuteron superconducting linear accelerator, are summarized.

Soreq Nuclear Research Center (SNRC) and CEA collaborate for the upgrade of the existing Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF) accelerator up to 5mA Continuous Wave (CW) 40 MeV deuteron and proton beams (Phase 2). SNRC is upgrading the injector: the ion source, the low energy beam transport line and the 4-rods Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ). CEA is in charge of the development and commissioning of the medium energy beam transport line and the superconducting linac. This paper presents the status of the SARAF linac development by CEA and the installation and testing of a new set of rods electrodes in the SARAF RFQ.

SNRC and CEA collaborate to the upgrade of the SARAF accelerator to 5 mA CW 40 MeV deuteron and proton beams (Phase 2). CEA is in charge of the design, construction and commissioning of the MEBT line and the superconducting linac (SARAF-LINAC Project). The prototypes of the 176 MHz NC rebuncher, SC cavities, RF coupler and SC solenoid-Package have been tested recently. Meanwhile, the cryomodules technical specifications have been written and called for tender. This paper presents the status of the SARAF-LINAC Project at April 2019.

SARAF (Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility) is based on a 5 mA, 40 MeV, proton/deuteron accelerator. Phase-I, operational since 2010, provides proton and deuteron beams up to 4 and 5 MeV, respectively, for basic and applied research activities. The high power Liquid-Lithium jet Target (LiLiT), with 1.912 MeV proton beam, provides high flux quasi-Maxwellian neutrons at kT similar to 30 keV (about 2 x 10(10) n/s/cm(2)/mA on the irradiated sample, about 1 cm from the target), enabling studies of s-process reactions relevant to nucleo-synthesis of the heavy elements in giant AGB stars. With higher energy proton beams and with deuterons, LiLiT can provide higher fluxes of high energy neutrons up to 20 MeV. The experimental program with SARAF phase-I will be enhanced shortly with a new target room complex which is under construction. Finally, SARAF phase-II, planned to start operation at similar to 2023, will enable full capabilities with proton/ deuteron beams at 5 mA and 40 MeV. Liquid lithium targets will then be used to produce neutron sources with intensities of 10(15) n/s, which after thermalization will provide thermal neutron (25 meV) fluxes of about 10(12) n/s/cm(2) at the entrance to neutron beam lines to diffraction and radiography stations.

The original SARAF 3.8 m long 4-rod Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) has been successful in acceleration of 4 mA ContinuousWave (CW) proton beam and pulsed deuteron beam to 1.5 MeV/u. However, conditions for running CW deuteron beam have not been achieved in the original design. A new 4-rod structure has been designed and implemented, with the goal of reducing the RF power required for CW deuteron operation while slightly compromising the RFQ exit energy to 1.27 MeV/u. The new 4-rod structure was manufactured, and installed in place of the old rod electrodes. Superior field homogeneity was achieved. The RFQ was successfully conditioned to the RF power 200 kW required for CW deuteron operation, with sufficient power margin. The commissioning with proton and deuteron beams showed that most of beam parameters are close to the designed specifications. The first operation with CW RF power of 5 mA deuteron beam was demonstrated. In addition, a 1.1 mA CW deuteron beam was transported through the superconducting module. The future scope of RFQ improvements is discussed.

The Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF) is under construction in the Soreq Nuclear Research Center at Yavne, Israel. When completed at the beginning of the next decade, SARAF will be a user facility for basic and applied nuclear physics, based on a 40 MeV, 5 mA CW proton/deuteron superconducting linear accelerator. Phase I of SARAF (SARAF-I, 4 MeV, 2 mA CW protons, 5 MeV 1 mA CW deuterons) is already in operation, generating scientific results in several fields of interest. The main ongoing program at SARAF-I is the production of 30 keV neutrons and measurement of Maxwellian Averaged Cross Sections (MACS), important for the astrophysical s-process. The world leading Maxwellian epithermal neutron yield at SARAF-I (\(5 \times 10^{10}\) epithermal neutrons/s), generated by a novel Liquid-Lithium Target (LiLiT), enables improved precision of known MACSs, and new measurements of low-abundance and radioactive isotopes. Research plans for SARAF-II span several disciplines: precision studies of beyond-Standard-Model effects by trapping light exotic radioisotopes, such as 6He, 8Li and 18, 19, 23Ne, in unprecedented amounts (including meaningful studies already at SARAF-I); extended nuclear astrophysics research with higher energy neutrons, including generation and studies of exotic neutron-rich isotopes relevant to the rapid (r-) process; nuclear structure of exotic isotopes; high energy neutron cross sections for basic nuclear physics and material science research, including neutron induced radiation damage; neutron based imaging and therapy; and novel radiopharmaceuticals development and production. In this paper we present a technical overview of SARAF-I and II, including a description of the accelerator and its irradiation targets; a survey of existing research programs at SARAF-I; and the research potential at the completed facility (SARAF-II).

The Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF) is under construction at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Yavne, Israel. When completed at the beginning of the next decade, SARAF will be a user facility based on a 40 MeV, 5 mA CW proton/deuteron superconducting linear accelerator. Phase I of SARAF (4 MeV, 2 mA CW protons, 5 MeV 1 mA pulsed deuterons) is already in operation. By use of a novel liquid lithium jet target (LiLiT), we generated up to 5×10^10 epithermal neutrons/sec, mainly for nuclear astrophysics research of slow neutron capture processes (s-process). We present a survey of research programs and plans at the completed SARAF, which span several disciplines: Precision studies of beyond-Standard-Model effects by trapping light exotic isotopes, such as 6He, 8Li and Ne isotopes, in unprecedented amounts (including meaningful studies already at Phase I); extended nuclear astrophysics research with higher energy neutrons, including generation and studies of exotic neutron-rich isotopes relevant to the rapid (r-) process; high energy neutrons cross section measurements for basic nuclear physics and material science research, including neutron induced radiation damage; neutron based imaging and therapy; and novel radio-pharmaceuticals development and production.

Bismuth capture of neutrons is the termination point of the s-process cycle of nucleosynthesis in stellar environments. A new measurement is reported here for neutron activation of bismuth with an intense quasi-Maxwellian neutron source at kT similar to 30 keV. The measurement was performed at the SARAF phase I accelerator facility by bombarding a 1.5-mA proton beam on the liquid-lithium larget. The cross section of the Bi-209(n,gamma) capture reaction leading to the Bi-210 ground state was determined by combining beta measurements from the Bi-210g decay and a and. from the subsequent Po-210 decay, along with detailed Monte Carlo simulations of the Li-7(p,n) reaction kinematics and the activation experimental setup. Deduced Maxwellian averaged cross sections (MACS) for Bi-209(n,gamma)(210g) Bi at kT = 30 keV using the ENDF, JEFF, and JENDL databases for the corrections and extrapolations yielded a value of 1.84 +/- 0.09 mb. A comparison is made with previous measurements, including time-of-flight (TOF) measurements of the total bismuth capture cross section. Plans for obtaining the MACS for capture to the bismuth-210 metastable state in the reaction Bi-209(n,gamma)Bi-210m are discussed, along with estimates based on our results in comparison with TOF measurements. The bismuth neutron activation cross section is also of importance for design of GenIV reactor coolant and subcritical accelerator driven systems, especially in light of the 3 million year half-life of the Bi-210m isomer.

Received 21 June 2016DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.19.079901This article is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.© 2016 American Physical Society

Neutrons produced by the 7Li(p, n)7Be reaction close to threshold are widely used to measure the cross section of s-process nucleosynthesis reactions. While experiments have been performed so far with Van de Graaff accelerators, the use of RF accelerators with higher intensities is planned to enable investigations on radioactive isotopes. In parallel, high-power Li targets for the production of high-intensity neutrons at stellar energies are developed at Goethe University (Frankfurt, Germany) and SARAF (Soreq NRC, Israel). However, such setups pose severe challenges for the measurement of the proton beam intensity or the neutron fluence. In order to develop appropriate methods, we studied in detail the neutron energy distribution and intensity produced by the thick-target 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction and compared them to state-of- the-art simulation codes. Measurements were performed with the bunched and chopped proton beam at the Van de Graaff facility of the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) using the time-of-flight (TOF) technique with thin (1/8") and thick (1") detectors. The importance of detailed simulations of the detector structure and geometry for the conversion of TOF to a neutron energy is stressed. The measured neutron spectra are consistent with those previously reported and agree well with Monte Carlo simulations that include experimentally determined 7Li(p,n) cross sections, two-body kinematics and proton energy loss in the Li-target.

A high-power Liquid-Lithium Target (LiLiT) was used for the first time for neutron production via the thick-target 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction and quantitative determination of neutron capture cross sections. Bombarded with a 1-2 mA proton beam at 1.92 MeV from the Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF), the setup yields a 30-keV quasi-Maxwellian neutron spectrum with an intensity of 3-5e10 n/s, more than one order of magnitude larger than present near-threshold 7Li(p,n) neutron sources. The setup was used here to determine the 30-keV Maxwellian averaged cross section (MACS) of 94Zr and 96Zr as 28.0+-0.6 mb and 12.4+-0.5 mb respectively, based on activation measurements. The precision of the cross section determinations results both from the high neutron yield and from detailed simulations of the entire experimental setup. We plan to extend our experimental studies to low-abundance and radioactive targets. In addition, we show here that the setup yields intense high-energy (17.6 and 14.6 MeV) prompt capture gamma-rays from the 7Li(p,gamma)8Be reaction with yields of ~3e8 gammas/s/mA and ~4e8 gammas/s/mA, respectively, evidenced by the 90Zr(gamma,n)89Zr photonuclear reaction.

SNRC and CEA collaborate to the upgrade of the SARAF accelerator to 5 mA CW 40 MeV deuteron and proton beams (Phase 2). This paper presents the reference design of the SARAF-LINAC Project including a fourvane 176 MHz RFQ, a MEBT and a superconducting linac made of four five-meter cryomodules housing 26 superconducting HWR cavities and 20 superconducting solenoids. The first two identical cryomodules house lowbeta ($\beta$opt = 0.091), 280 mm long (flange to flange), 176 MHz HWR cavities, the two identical last cryomodules house high-beta ($\beta$opt = 0.181), 410 mm long, 176 MHz, HWR cavities. The beam is focused with superconducting solenoids located between cavities housing steering coils. A BPM is placed upstream each solenoid.

Even after a century of research, major aspects of nuclear physics still remain unknown, especially away from the valley of stability, or that require precise measurement of ultra-rare phenomena. Exploring this terra-incognita may shed new light on the genesis of elements in the universe, and may provide an excellent probe to physics beyond the Standard Model of elementary particles.

Phase I of the SARAF superconducting RF linac is under operation at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center. The present status of Phase I main components is reported, as well as, the beam operation experience accumulated in 2013-2014. The latter include acceleration of a 2 mA and 1.6 mA CW proton beams at energies of 2 MeV and 3.9 MeV correspondingly and 1 mA pulsed, duty cycle of few %, deuteron beams up to 5.6 MeV. The recent experiments include operation of intense CW proton beams on the liquid lithium target.

A high-power Liquid-Lithium Target (LiLiT) was used for the first time for neutron production via the thick-target Li7(p,n)Be7 reaction and quantitative determination of neutron capture cross sections. Bombarded with a 1–2 mA proton beam at 1.92 MeV from the Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF), the setup yields a 30-keV quasi-Maxwellian neutron spectrum with an intensity of 3–5×1010 n/s, more than one order of magnitude larger than present near-threshold Li7(p,n) neutron sources. The setup was used here to determine the 30-keV Maxwellian averaged cross section (MACS) of 94Zr and 96Zr as 28.0±0.6 mb and 12.4±0.5 mb respectively, based on activation measurements. The precision of the cross section determinations results both from the high neutron yield and from detailed simulations of the entire experimental setup. We plan to extend our experimental studies to low-abundance and radioactive targets. In addition, we show here that the setup yields intense high-energy (17.6 and 14.6 MeV) prompt capture γ rays from the Li7(p,γ)Be8 reaction with yields of ∼3×108γs−1mA−1 and ∼4×108γs−1mA−1, respectively, evidenced by the Zr90(γ,n)Zr89 photonuclear reaction.