Neutron applications developing at compact accelerator-driven neutron sources

Abstract

Neutrons have been used in a wide field of applications by using various neutron sources. Material science is one of the widest research fields. The activity is supported by nuclear research reactors and high-intensity spallation neutron sources based on a high-intensity proton accelerator. However, it is desired to perform a measurement when researchers want to do and to perform adventuresome experiments that have not yet confirmed its importance. Furthermore, trial and error measurements are necessary to improve a measurement method. Compact accelerator-driven neutron sources are suitable for such usage and in some cases can complement the measurement at a large facility. The use of the compact neutron source has sometimes led to new methods. Other than material science, a new application of soft error acceleration test has been performed at the compact accelerator-driven neutron sources. Another neutron application is radiation therapy called as boron neutron capture therapy. In this field, nuclear reactor neutron sources have been used but many of them shut down. It was desired to construct the BNCT facility near a hospital. Therefore, BNCT facilities based on the compact accelerator have been constructed in the world. Here, the neutron sources and new methods and applications developing at compact accelerator-driven neutron sources are introduced.