US hits neutron production milestone with 1.7-megawatt proton beam for 1,250 hours
The latest achievement of Proton the Power Upgrade (PPU) project shows the US has all it takes to remain a neutron science leader.
Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have achieved a big breakthrough in neutron research. They ran a neutron production system for 1,250 hours using a 1.7-megawatt proton beam.
This feat was accomplished using Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), a powerful research facility that uses short proton pulses to target steel-based material comprising liquid mercury. This interaction results in the creation of intense neutron beams.
The 1,250-hour demonstration shows that the US can produce neutrons on a large scale to advance its scientific capabilities. Plus, it also solidifies SNS’ position as one of the most powerful neutron production systems in the world.
“Operating a newly upgraded, world-class science facility for 1,250 hours right out of the gate is remarkable in its own right,” Jens Dilling, an experimental nuclear physicist and associate laboratory director neutron sciences at ORNL, said.
More neutrons mean more innovation
Neutrons are great at penetrating objects and revealing their internal structure. This makes them highly useful for studying complex materials, developing new ones, improving energy storage, and advancing medical research.
However, producing neutrons in large numbers is a complex and challenging process as it involves high-energy collisions and materials that could remain stable during such interactions.
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