Direct Neutron Reactions in Storage Rings Utilizing a Supercompact Cyclotron Neutron Target

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Tarifeño-Saldivia, Ariel, Domingo-Pardo, César, Dillmann, Iris, Litvinov, Yuri A.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Tarifeño-Saldivia, Ariel
Domingo-Pardo, César
Dillmann, Iris
Litvinov, Yuri A.
author_facet Tarifeño-Saldivia, Ariel
Domingo-Pardo, César
Dillmann, Iris
Litvinov, Yuri A.
contents We propose a new approach for a high-density free-neutron target, primarily aimed at nuclear astrophysics reaction studies in inverse kinematics with radioactive ions circulating in a storage ring. The target concept integrates four key subsystems: a neutron production source driven by a supercompact cyclotron utilizing $^9$Be($p,xn$) reactions, an optimized moderator/reflector assembly using either heavy water or beryllium oxide with a graphite reflector shell to thermalize fast neutrons, a cryogenic liquid hydrogen moderator to maximize thermal neutron density in the interaction region, and beam pipe geometries that enable neutron-ion interactions while maintaining vacuum conditions for ion circulation. This integrated approach focuses on the feasibility by incorporating readily available technologies. Using a commercial supercompact cyclotron delivering a proton beam of 130 $μ$A, the design achieves thermal neutron areal densities of $\sim3.4\times10^{6}$\,n/cm$^2$ for a proof-of-concept demonstrator at the CRYRING ion-storage ring at GSI Darmstadt. This autonomous accelerator-target assembly design enables deployment at both, in-flight and ISOL facilities, to exploit their complementary production mechanisms. Potential upgrades based on higher-energy and/or higher-current cyclotrons will enable an increase in areal density to $\sim$10$^9$ n/cm$^2$. In combination with a customized low-energy storage ring and a radioactive ion-beam facility, the proposed solution could deliver luminosities above 10$^{23}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, thereby enabling neutron capture measurements of $\sim$mb cross sections within a few days of experiment. The proposed system represents a significant milestone towards enabling large neutron-capture surveys on short-lived nuclei, thereby opening a new avenue for understanding the synthesis of heavy elements in our universe. Accepted in PRAB.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_15465
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Direct Neutron Reactions in Storage Rings Utilizing a Supercompact Cyclotron Neutron Target
Tarifeño-Saldivia, Ariel
Domingo-Pardo, César
Dillmann, Iris
Litvinov, Yuri A.
Nuclear Experiment
Instrumentation and Detectors
We propose a new approach for a high-density free-neutron target, primarily aimed at nuclear astrophysics reaction studies in inverse kinematics with radioactive ions circulating in a storage ring. The target concept integrates four key subsystems: a neutron production source driven by a supercompact cyclotron utilizing $^9$Be($p,xn$) reactions, an optimized moderator/reflector assembly using either heavy water or beryllium oxide with a graphite reflector shell to thermalize fast neutrons, a cryogenic liquid hydrogen moderator to maximize thermal neutron density in the interaction region, and beam pipe geometries that enable neutron-ion interactions while maintaining vacuum conditions for ion circulation. This integrated approach focuses on the feasibility by incorporating readily available technologies. Using a commercial supercompact cyclotron delivering a proton beam of 130 $μ$A, the design achieves thermal neutron areal densities of $\sim3.4\times10^{6}$\,n/cm$^2$ for a proof-of-concept demonstrator at the CRYRING ion-storage ring at GSI Darmstadt. This autonomous accelerator-target assembly design enables deployment at both, in-flight and ISOL facilities, to exploit their complementary production mechanisms. Potential upgrades based on higher-energy and/or higher-current cyclotrons will enable an increase in areal density to $\sim$10$^9$ n/cm$^2$. In combination with a customized low-energy storage ring and a radioactive ion-beam facility, the proposed solution could deliver luminosities above 10$^{23}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, thereby enabling neutron capture measurements of $\sim$mb cross sections within a few days of experiment. The proposed system represents a significant milestone towards enabling large neutron-capture surveys on short-lived nuclei, thereby opening a new avenue for understanding the synthesis of heavy elements in our universe. Accepted in PRAB.
title Direct Neutron Reactions in Storage Rings Utilizing a Supercompact Cyclotron Neutron Target
topic Nuclear Experiment
Instrumentation and Detectors
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.15465