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The potential of high current accelerator-driven neutron sources

Scientists at JCNS working on the High Brilliance neutron Source (HBS) project have published an extensive review on neutron sources for large scale user facilities, aimed at users of neutron sources who need to understand the characteristics and peculiarities of the different types of neutron sources in order to select the most suitable one for their needs.

The detailed review published in the journal Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics provides a basic overview on the main nuclear processes used at user facilities to release neutrons from nuclei, namely fission, spallation, and low-energy nuclear reactions. It also explains how to tailor time structure and spectrum of free neutrons as well as how to extract and transport neutron beams and it outlines the many applications and experimental requirements in major scientific fields. A most detailed overview is given by the authors on the progress made in Compact Accelerator-driven Neutron Sources (CANS) and in particular in High Current Accelerator-driven Neutron Sources (HiCANS) like HBS as the future technology for powerful neutron sources.

P. Zakalek, T. Gutberlet, Th. Brückel, Neutron sources for large scale user facilities: The potential of high current accelerator-driven neutron sources, Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics 142 (2025) 104163, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppnp.2025.104163

ESS Bilbao completes the assembly and vacuum tests of its RFQ

Following the successful assembly and vacuum testing of the ESS-Bilbao Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ), the Advanced Manufacturing and Metrology team from our industrial partner EGILE visited our facilities in Zamudio. This linear accelerator (LINAC) will be a critical part of a HiCANS platform to be established at the ESS Bilbao site in Spain in collaboration with JCNS (Jülich, Germany) and LLB (CEA-CNRS France) partners. Read also the post on LinkedIn.

Joined forces of ESS Bilbao, JCNS and LLB for the development of HiCANS

With recent developments in the field of HiCANS neutron sources the members of the ELENA association of ESS Bilbao (Spain), JCNS (Germany) and LLB (CEA-CNRS France) plan to join common forces for a dedicated HiCANS platform to be established in the next years. Combining the very recent achievements of Argitu, ICONE and HBS projects, the aim is to use the high current proton accelerator system currently in construction at the ESS Bilbao together with the target-moderator-reflector unit build and successfully operated at JCNS, the target option tested by LLB at IPHY Saclay-accelerator in France and the time-of-flight reflectometer instrument of LLB, successfully operated at JULIC neutron platform, to demonstrate the feasibility and option of a full high current accelerator driven neutron source in Europe for the next generation of neutron sources. The partners plan to have the combined system ready for operation in 2026 at the ESS Bilbao site in Spain. The unique combination of the independent components by the three partners will show the possibilities for HiCANS neutron sources and help to improve its concept for the realization of HiCANS facilities in the countries of the ELENA association.

ELENA members Thomas Gutberlet (JCNS), left, Mario Perez (ESS Bilbao), middle and Arnaud Desmedt (LLB CEA-CNRS), right meeting at the IMoH Workshop 2024 in Bilbao.

The manufacturing of the fourth and final segment of the ESS Bilbao RFQ is successfully completed.

Great teamwork from physicists and engineers at bothESS Bilbao and EGILE coordinated by Juan Luis Muñoz and Ibon Bustinduy. Excellent manufacturing and machining work to the maximum precision of the parts of this component at EGILE, special thanks to Unai Etxebeste Rodriguez for his hard work and dedication.

Next challenge is the assembly, integration and tuning of the cavity! More exciting news to come!!!

The RFQ, the initial element of any LINAc (Linear Accelerator), is located after the ion source and the LEBT,  being the first cavity that accelerates the proton beam to 3MeV.

This component constitutes one of the key elements of a future accelerator at ESS Bilbao and has been realized after years of hard work and dedication.

Congrats to ESS Bilbao Accelerator Team and EGILE Extreme Precision Team. 

WELL DONE!!!

JCNS Workshop 2023: Trends and Perspectives in Neutron Scattering: 
Future Instruments at Pulsed Sources

Instrument developers and scientists met at the JCNS 2023 workshop held in Tutzing, Germany, on October 9-12, 2023. The workshop was dedicated to future instruments for pulsed sources and aimed to discuss the latest and new developments in instrumentation for such sources. Mirrotron, ARGITU, HBS, ICONE as well as on-going projects in Uppsala (Sweden) were also presented and discussed. Have a look at the program here.

The HBS TDR is published!

You may like to download the electronic version of the Technical Design Reports at the HBS webpage

HBS@ECNS2023

At the European Conference on Neutron Scattering 2023, that took place at MLZ in Garching, the HBS project was presented not only on posters and talks during the CANS microsymposium, but also on its very own booth. Over 40 people visited the booth and signed up to receive further information about the project.

The ECNS Proceedings with a whole section dedicated to the CANS microsymposium are online.

First neutrons from next generation neutron source in Jülich

Accelerator-driven, low-energy compact neutron sources are worldwide considered as the next generation of neutron source for a wide range of applications. On December 2oth 2022 researchers from JCNS at Forschungszentrum Jülich have now achieved a breakthrough by delivering first neutrons with a new powerful target/moderator technology developed in Jülich. Click here for further information.

LENS Report

Have a look at the new report “Neutron Science in Europe” of LENS including important statements on HiCANS.

First diffraction measurements with the high power Be target on Iphi

Tests of a high power Beryllium (Be) target and first neutron diffraction measurements have been performed on the IPHI-neutron source.

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Reports on Low Energy accelerator-based Neutron Sources

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