A Free-Jet Mercury System for Use in a High-Power Target Experiment

A proof-of-principle experiment to investigate the interaction of a proton beam, high magnetic field, and high-Z target is planned for testing at CERN in 2007. The experiment is a multi-laboratory, international endeavor underwritten by the Muon Collider Collaboration. A free-jet mercury target system that interacts with a high-power (1-MW) proton beam in a high magnetic field (15 T) is being designed. The mercury jet target is configured for insertion into the 15-cm-diameter bore of a high-field solenoid. The target features a hermetically sealed primary-containment volume that is enclosed in a secondary containment to ensure isolation of mercury vapors from the surrounding environment. The jet diameter is 1 cm, and the jet velocity will be up to 20 m/s. An optical diagnostic is incorporated into the target design to permit observation of the dispersal of the mercury as a result of interaction with a 24-GeV proton beam with up to 20 x 10¹²protons per pulse. The target system also includes titanium alloy beam windows for the primary and secondary containments.