A multipurpose fast neutron beam capability at the MASURCA facility

In this paper we investigate the possible future use of the CEA Cadarache MASURCA experimental fast reactor to generate a fairly high-intensity continuous beam of fast neutrons, having energies distributed in the 1 KeV to 5 MeV range. Such an extracted beam of fast neutrons, tailorable in intensity, size and energy, would be rather unique; it would be of interest to neutron-based research and could open a range of new applications at MASURCA. We report the results of numerical simulations which have been performed to evaluate the feasibility of such a beam port and to characterize it spectrally.