Zuokang Lin | Searcharxiv

arXiv2025

NeutrSHINE: a high repetition rate ultrafast neutron source driven by SHINE electron beam

Neutrons serve as unique probes for exploring the microscopic structure of matter, with the performance of a neutron source fundamentally governing the depth of scientific exploration and the breadth of industrial applicability. To address application demands including nuclear data measurement in the ultra-high-energy region, fundamental particle physics research, highly efficient non-destructive neutron testing, and extreme environment simulation, an ultrafast neutron source driven by the 8 GeV electron beam from the Shanghai high-repetition-rate extreme light facility (SHINE) was conceptually proposed, named NeutrSHINE. Using multidisciplinary simulation tools, key neutronic parameters, thermal behavior of high-power neutron targets, and the factors affecting the time resolution of the source were analyzed. The results affirm the technical feasibility and promising application prospects of the NeutrSHINE concept.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2017

Simulation of Physical Parameters for a Photoneutron Source

A compact photoneutron source (PNS), based on an electron linac was designed and constructed to provide required nuclear data for the design of Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR). Many local shielding are built to reduce the background of neutron and γ rays, making the location of the time of flight (TOF) detector be fixed at 6.2 m place. Under the existing layout, some physical parameters are very difficult to get by the experiments, while can be obtained by the Monte Carlo simulation method. However, for the deep penetration problem of the neutron and γ rays transport in the channel of PNS with complex geometry, the normal Monte Carlo method is inefficient since electron transport calculation need a large amount of computing time and neutrons have little contribution to the detector in far-source region. In this work, the subsection method is applied in the simulation for PNS, which divide the simulation process in two steps, recording the neutron and γ rays information passing through the source window in the first step and adopting the covariance reduction techniques in the second step. The simulated neutron flux and energy spectrum at the TOF detector place with the relative error 1.6% are well agreement with the experimental results, achieving an efficiency 23 times better than the normal method. This method is fast and efficient in predicting the physical parameters, providing a required verification and initiating the foreseen physics experiment.

physics.comp-ph↗