HiSPANoS (HiSPAlis Neutron Source) at CNA: installation and commissioning of the rst neutron time of ight beamline in Spain

Abstract

This PhD dissertation arises with the idea of providing pulsed neutron sources with different energies and angular distributions at Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA) in Seville (Spain), which could be generated by 7Li(p,n) and D(d,n) reactions. In order to provide pulsed beams, a chopping/bunching system has been installed and commissioned, as well as new equipment has been added to better monitor and control the beam in a new dedicated neutron line of the Tandem Accelerator at CNA. The goal of this project was the first measurement of the 7Li(p,n)7Be (Ep = 1912 keV) angular-energy neutron field at the implemented HiSPANoS time-of-fight facility at CNA from 2:5 to 130 keV. The measurement has been performed in the summer of 2018. In order to carry out the measurement, a lithium-metallic target, acquisition system, and data analysis became essential to develop. Afterwards, given the experience acquired, a novel neutron feld, 7Li(p,n)7Be at Ep = 1950 keV, was measured at HiSPANoS time-of-fight facility. This measurement is of interest in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) as neutron source.