Sponsored by Indiana University, National Science Foundation, Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center,
Indiana 21st Century Research & Technology Fund, and Missile Defense Agency.
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The Low Energy Neutron Source (LENS) is a novel, university-based pulsed neutron source under construction at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility. The facility will begin normal operations early in 2007. The source utilizes a low energy p-n reaction in Be coupled with a high-current, variable-pulse-width proton accelerator to produce either short or long neutron pulses. A highly optimized moderator produces cold and very cold neutrons for use by a suite of neutron scattering instruments and development facilities. For a general description of how the source works click here. More details about the various components of the source may be obtained by clicking on the structures of interest in the figure below.
LENS will be a regional university facility for research, innovation, education and outreach with a national impact. The emphasis on cold and very cold neutrons makes it suitable for materials research, particularly in the area of nanoscale structures which are a research focus of many universities in the region. The flexible scheduling and technical resources available at IUCF make it ideal for developing innovative new neutron scattering techniques and instrumentation that will provide national benefits. At the same time, LENS's location in a university environment supports educational development at a local, regional and national level.
LENS News
LENS produces first klystron-powered proton beam
By David Baxter
December 21, 2006
A klystron-powered proton beam was produced by IUCF’s Low Energy Neutron Source (LENS) accelerator for the first time on December 20, 2006. For the last two years, since December 2004, the LENS source has been producing neutrons using an accelerator employing a vacuum tube RF power system. This system was able to deliver less than 750kW of power to the accelerator. With the original RF system, the LENS source was limited to beams of less than 250W. The successful commissioning of the klyston RF power systems, involving two 1MW klystron amplifiers, is the first step in an upgrade that will raise the power of the source over the next several months to 2kW. Future upgrades to the accelerator and conventional AC power systems of the facility will eventually raise the beam power to 20kW or more. In addition to this, the klystron installation has reduced the rise-time for the proton beam to less than 3 micro-seconds, which is an important feature for some of the technical studies to be conducted at the facility.
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| LENS first klystron-powered proton beam viewed on a fluorescent screen. |
LENS is a neutron scattering facility with a three-fold mission: to conduct materials research with neutrons, develop new neutron instrumentation for both fundamental and applied research, and to enhance education in the science and technology of neutrons at all levels. Even at the low power levels available over the last two years, the facility has already been used for investigations of neutron moderator design, neutron instrumentation development, and preliminary testing of neutron radiation effects in electronics. The increase in the available power of the source afforded by the klystrons, along with the installation of a new target station and updated Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) instrument (scheduled to be completed this spring), will allow neutron scattering experiments investigating the large-scale structure of various materials to commence.
LENS Events
- There are currently no scheduled LENS related events.
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