SOURIRE
General Information
Category
The SOURIRE Lab is a fast (14 MeV) neutron irradiation plant for material testing, neutron activation analysis and calibration of new detectors. The neutron source is a Deuterium-Tritium (D-T) type, and the total flux is 10 10 neutron per second over the entire solid angle. The facility is open to scientist and companies, who wants to irradiate their sample. At SOURIRE Neutron Source, radiation hardness tests of materials can be performed. Moreover, fast neutron detectors can be characterised and calibrated with 14 MeV neutrons that can be used in different physics field, such as nuclear fusion, where fast neutrons are emitted. The building that will host the neutron source is under construction and the expected start date of activities is June 2026; meanwhile, the IS and the staff can conduct you to other facilities to perform your experiment. At the moment, it is possible to conduct irradiation measurements for radiation hardness testing and neutron activation analysis.
Tecnical description
SOURIRE is a compact fast neutron source with an average intensity of up to 10^10 n/s over the entire solid angle. The generator operates by accelerating deuterium ions and directing them to collide with a tritium target. These nuclear fusion reactions generate fast neutrons of 14 MeV.
In addition to a concrete bunker that houses the source, the facility includes a radiochemistry laboratory, an irradiation system “RABBIT” consisting of a pneumatic channel used for neutron activation analysis (NAA) and a detector for gamma spectroscopy: a 50% Relative Efficiency Broad Energy High Purity Germanium. The software for the analysis of gamma spectra will be MAESTRO and GAMMAVISION. SOURIRE will allow detector tests to be conducted by irradiating them directly inside the bunker, and the operation will be monitored within two passages that can be instrumented from the control room.Research areas and applications
Calibration of new detectors; Material testing; Neutron activation analysis; Radiation hardness tests; Fast neutron detectors characterization; Nuclear fusion; Irradiation measurements; Gamma spectrometry; Training activity in gamma spectrometry.
Science highlights
Science highlights
Perelli Cippo, E. et al. (2023) “Towards the use of SDD as an absolute detector for high- energy neutron measurements,” Journal of Instrumentation, 18(05). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/18/05/C05019.
Experimental team
- Gabriele Croci
- University of Milano Bicocca
- Professor
- Massimiliano Clemenza
- University of Milano Bicocca
- Technologist
- Daniela Di Martino
- University of Milano Bicocca
- Researcher