Multiple Uses of an Upgraded FMIT Facility

The Fusion Materials Irradiation Test (FMIT) facility was designed to test small samples in fluxes greater than 1015) n cm2-s of fusion-like neutrons. The source of neutrons would be a 0.1 A beam of 35 MeV deuterons stopped in a liquid lithium jet target. During the present construction deferral, pending an international agreement, an expanded mission is being explored. Multiple CW beams in a common accelerator structure could be used to obtain a total steady-state beam current of about 1 A. This could provide for simultaneous multiple uses in up to four or more target areas as described below. For fusion materials, individual CW beams could be simultaneously directed to two or more FMIT targets, greatly improving availability. Alternately, the multiple beams could be combined for testing of large, multi-liter sized components of fusion reactors. At the same time, research in condensed matter could be pursued using both a steady-state and pulsed source of thermal neutrons in separate target areas. A steady-state flux that is an order of magnitude improvement over current reactor sources can be obtained. Moreover, a pulsed source that is comparable to the most intense pulsed sources nearing completion can also be achieved.