Simulated performance evaluation of d-Be compact fast neutron source

ABSTRACT

The d+Be neutron source is a candidate for transportable neutron source for on-site nondestructive inspection of infrastructure facilities such as bridges, tunnels and so on. The applicability of the d+Be neutron source to a transportable fast neutron source is explored by Monte Carlo particle transport simulations with the PHITS code and the JENDL-5 nuclear data library. The simulation results show that by increasing the shielding thickness by about 1.5 times, it is possible to realize the d+Be neutron source with the comparable performance to another candidate, the 2.5-MeV p+Li neutron source, at lower beam energy.

KEYWORDS:

• Deuteron
• beryllium
• neutron source
• JENDL-5
• PHITS

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank K. Sugihara for providing the helpful information on the simulation of the p+Li neutron source.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the JSPS [KAKENHI 19K15483].