The Multipurpose 14-MeV Neutron Source at Bratislava

A multipurpose 14-MeV neutron source based on the T(d,n)⁴ He reaction is under construction in Bratislava. Its basic purpose is to produce intense and pulsed beams of 14-Me V neutrons. The intense section of the source is expected to continuously produce 1.2 × 10¹² n/s with a 20-mA duoplasmatron ion source, 300-kV/40-mA high-voltage power supply, and a rotating titanium-tritium target for 1100 rpm. Although it is designed for a variety of experiments in low-energy nuclear physics involving in-beam gamma-ray, neutron, and charged-particle spectroscopy, neutron activation measurements as well as neutron irradiation studies are also planned. So far, we have completed the main section of the accelerator itself and part of a low-intensity direct current beamline with a neutron yield to 4 × 10¹⁰ n/s. A continuation of this line, with a fast pulsed section capable of generating a compressed 1-ns-wide D⁺ ion beam at a repetition rate of 5 MHz is under construction. The source components, which are designed to be highly reliable and provide minimum radiation hazard from tritium handling, are discussed together with final source specifications.