Isotopes & Radiation Briefs

摘要

A new mercury target for the SNS has been installed to replace the target that had been in use since the startup of the Spallation Neutron Source in August 2006. The replacement process entailed draining roughly 20 tons of mercury from the original target module, replacing the old module with a new one, and filling the new module with the mercury. The original target had lasted longer than expected. The SNS, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is currently operating with beam power under 500 kW, and when the design power of 1.4 MW is employed on a steady basis, target replacement could be necessary several times a year.