THE IRIDE NEUTRON SOURCE: POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

I R I D E is a large infrastructure for fundamental and applied physics research. Conceived as an innovative and evolutionary tool for multi-disciplinary investigations in a wide field of scientific, technological and industrial applications, it will be a high intensity “particle beams factory”.

Based on a combination of a high duty cycle radio-frequency superconducting electron linac (SC RF LINAC) and of high energy lasers it will be able to produce a high flux of electrons, photons (from infrared to g-rays), neutrons, protons, pions and eventually positrons, that will be available for a wide national and international scientific community interested to take profit of the most advanced particle and radiation sources.

2K-CRYO2K-CRYO

3 GeV

PWA

n,(p, )p

e+

g

1.5 GeV 1.5 GeV

X (FEL)

E-THz

Description of the project

• Lead by Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare with the involvement of several reasearch institutions including ENEA and INFN

• Timescale: start ~5 years after approval• Location: Rome area

Neutron spectra@ target

Spectrum before moderation

Flux after moderation (GELINA)

Existing sources in Europe

F

S: spallation R: reactor C: continuous spallation P=photo-production

Comparison with other sources

IRIDE(EXPECTED)

Be(p/d,n) Photo- prod

spallation

POTENTIAL TECHNIQUES AT IRIDE

Neutron Imaging (radiography and tomography) is a technique able to perform spatial and volumetric maps of samples in order to study their morphology

5 beamlines in Europe + 1 in constructionrequested beam time / available beam time = 3 / 1 500 users per year

The ICON beam-line at the SINQ continuous spallation neutron sourcehttp://www.psi.ch/sinq/icon/icon

source

Small field of view, high res. measuring positionlarge field of view,

high res.meas. position

Neutron imaging

Elastic, quasi-elastic and inelastic scatteringA wide range of techniques able to determine: - lattice structure (diffraction – hard at IRIDE), - macrostructure (small angle scattering), - interface morphology (reflectometry)- diffusion processes (quasi elastic scattering), - collective and vibrational states of matter (inelastic scattering – not at

IRIDE)

More than 100 beamlines in Europerequested beam time/available beam time = 2 / 1 6000 users per year

2000 Italian usersMore info:Società Italiana di Spettroscopia Neutronica (www.sisn.it)

An example: HB-2A neutron powder diffractometer (ORNL, USA)

Neutron Scattering

Neutron irradiation

Single event effects (SEE) are defined as disturbance of an active electronic device caused by a single energetic particle:

- Upset (SEU): change in logic state, simplest example is a memory cell in RAM

- Latchup (SEL): sharp increase in current resulting from turning on parasitic pnpn

- Damage or burnout (SEB) of power transistor or other high voltage device

- Functional interrupt (SEFI): malfunctions in more complex parts sometimes as lockup, hard error, etc

More than neutrons

IRIDE CAN PRODUCE ALSO PIONS, PROTONS AND MUONS

Industrial Employment of Neutron Sources

Energy

•Use of neutron diffraction to study the phase analysis of anode and cathode materials during charging and discharging of batteries and radiographic imaging of the filling level of batteries. Elastic and Quasi-elastic neutron scattering can help explain the dynamics of the lithium ions inside such batteries. Small angle Neutron Scattering allows to characterize the shape and dimension of storage units.

energy storage

•Due to the high sensitivity of neutrons to hydrogen atoms, their transport properties in solid storage materials can be analyzed in detail. The filling of hydrogen in real devices under usage conditions reveals the technical details of the charging/discharging process. Suitable storage materials are being been analyzed in detail using neutron diffraction, especially for light weight materials as possible hydrogen storing materials for mobile applications.

hydrogen storage

•The development of high temperature superconductors benefits from the basic understanding of material properties achieved by neutron scattering.

energy transport

•In photovoltaics and solar energy research, Elastic and Quasi Elastic Neutron Scattering is used to characterize the mobility of species within solar cells.

solarenergy

With the growth of the world population, the basic needs becoming more and more difficult to meet. Although there are technological solutions to many problems, all of them are based on electrical or thermal energy. In view of the limited resources of fossil fuel electricity will increase in importance and for this reason it needs substantial improvement in order to meet the future needs of the world. Neutrons probe the atomic structure and are therefore well suited to investigate materials for energy research. Furthermore, neutron can penetrate massive material easily, which allows to study complex components in-situ under technical conditions.

Health and Life Sciences

Neutrons can see the elements and the molecules of life in a way that is not possible with X-rays For example, the data of neutron scattering are providing important structural information relevant to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other diseases that are associated with the deposition of insoluble fibrils in the body. Neutron techniques are being used to study drug molecules and their interactions with a variety of biological molecules and for the production of radionuclides that are used in medical diagnosis. Recently there is an increasing interest in the development of approaches whereby neutron beams can be used to target and destroy tumors and for the development of new biomaterials for dental and bone implants.

Neutron Small Angle Scattering (SANS)

Elastic Incoherent Neutron Scattering (EINS)and Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering (QENS)

Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)

Neutron Imaging (NI)

Information and Communication technologyAdvanced technology is needed to meet the ever-growing demand for increasingly fast and small devices such as computers, mobile phones and media players. The field of spintronics is greatly contributing to this area, thanks to neutron scattering.

Neutrons techniques allow to identify the structure of organic materials for new electronicdevices such as organic light-emitting diodes and electroactive polymers and to characterize theinternal details of materials.

Elastic and Quasi Elastic Neutron Scattering provides a powerful probe technique for studying the dynamics of mobile species.

Neutron Diffraction

Elastic and Inelastic Neutron

Scattering

Neutron Imaging

Small Angle

Neutron Scattering

Chip Irradiation

Study of the impact of neutron fluxes on performances of chips a universal industrial problemAvionics

In 2001, the NASA Altair, Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) flew its first flight at an altitude of 100,000 feet. Designed by NASA-Dryden engineers and scientists, it is designed to fly for up to 48 hours to complete a variety of science research studies of Earth. Because of the complexity of the computer systems (called avionics) onboard, and the very high altitudes being flown, special attention had to be paid to cosmic ray showers. These particles, mostly neutrons, pass through the walls of the aircraft and can affect computer circuitry. IRIDE will allow to reproduce in few minutes the impact of cosmic ray neutrons collected in a year.

Information and Communication technology (ctd.)

Also applies to IT infrastructures, motive, and medical applications

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular, or nano-scale - from 1 to 100 nm. Neutrons cover all the length scales from the Angstrom scale of the atomic structure of individual building blocks to the configuration of assembled, functional structures, making them essential tools for the elucidation of nanostructures.Neutrons have some built-in advantages compared to X-rays; namely their spin, mass, and the strong scattering cross section for the hydrogen isotope deuterium.

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) is used to study polymer chains growing or aggregation on nanoparticles and polymer/nanoparticle interaction, for application inmaterials science or medicine such as drug delivery or contrast imaging. SANS can also be used toanalyse the aggregation of nanoparticles.

Mechanical properties can be investigated by stess-strain Diffraction Techniques and Elastic Neutron Scattering

Environment and Earth SciencesThe increasing world population density, together with global urbanization and industrialization are putting a real strain on the planet and the environment. Countries need to minimize this strain and protect their environment. Neutrons can contribute to the development of clean technologies and processes. They can also provide much needed insight into Earth processes and the properties of rocks and minerals.

Fighting pollutionAtmospheric science

Earth sciences

Neutron diffraction can help define the intrinsic nature of pollutants and its relationship with the substance they are polluting. Neutrons are able reveal the short range order of ions sequestered in minerals like clays. Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis and Neutron Activation Analysis allow to identify pollutants.

Neutron diffraction contributes to atmospheric science and the study of ice crystals in clouds, and give valuable insight into the role of clouds in global warming. Neutrons have their role to play in the battle to minimize carbon emissions.Small angle neutron scattering can also be used to analyze materials for carbon capture and storage, another way to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

Neutrons can be applied to several fields of Earth sciences. The sensitivity of neutrons to hydrogen allows precise measurements to be made of the structure, synthesis and dynamics of hydrous mineral phases. In the latter case, which utilises the penetrating power of neutrons to study large volume samples coupled with the sensitivity of neutrons to light atoms.

Fighting pollution Atmospheric science Earth sciences

Heritage scienceAll crystalline material – metal, pigments, rock, ceramics – can be analyzed by neutron diffraction. Neutrons are an invaluable tool to analyze precious archaeological objects. Neutron tomography and radiography provide information about interesting inner parts of the object

For archaeology and cultural heritage studies, neutron diffraction allows to quantitatively determine the crystallographic parameters and phase content of a material.

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been used for studies on samples of different types of paper and ancient paper. These studies have yielded details of the surface morphology of cellulose fibres, the spatial distribution of water-filled pores, and the increasing dimension of water domains in cellulose as degradation occurs, and allowed for methods for the prevention of paper ageing to be developed.

Neutron Techniques Nuclear analytical techniques such as Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA), NeutronActivation Analysis (NAA) or Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis (NRCA) allow for non-destructive chemical analysis of historical artefacts, with little or no sample preparation.

Non destructive testing Damage accumulation due to fatigue significantly reduces the safety of mechanical components of all kinds of mechanical appliances, such as, for instance, railway wheels and helicopter rotors.

Neutron diffraction allows to quantitatively determine the crystallographic parameters and phase content of a material.

For bulky objects this is the only non-destructive possible imaging technique. Diffractive images of a railway wheel crack

„Neutron Imaging, a non-destructive tool for material testing” (IAEA report) http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/te_1604_web.pdf

Neutron radiography/tomography allows to trace hydrogenous materials inside metallic structures with high precision.

Neutron radiography of the injection nozzle of a diesel engine