IsoDAR Neutrino Target R&D and Engineering

来自加速器和核反应堆的中微子在我们理解这些难以捉摸、难以观察的基本粒子的性质方面发挥了核心作用。已知存在三种不同类型的中微子，它们是通过一种已知的自然力相互作用而被探测到的。第四种类型的中微子已经被假设，一种所谓的光惰性中微子，被认为只通过重力相互作用。该合同将为IsoDAR（同位素静止衰变）实验从概念设计报告阶段进入初步设计报告阶段提供必要的研发和工程资金。IsoDAR是一种新型的纯电子反中微子源，当与地下探测器配对时，可以搜索惰性中微子和非标准相互作用。需要解决的问题是对中微子产生目标的高强度瞄准，到目前为止，已经通过模拟和一些初步的工程研究进行了研究。与该项目相关，该计划涉及四个领域：1)培养具有全球竞争力的STEM劳动力；2)增加妇女和少数民族的参与；3)加强学术界与产业界的合作；4)提高个人在社会中的福祉。该项目将包括一名研究生和来自夏季REU项目的学生，其中平均75%的参与者是女性。这将给他们提供与行业承包商学徒的机会。最后，这项工作与强大的工业合作有关，因为使用了同位素生产的明亮加速器和加速器驱动系统（ADS）技术，例如应用于驱动钍反应堆，从而支持安全核能的发展。IsoDAR的反中微子速率似乎可以通过质子束速率实现，但目标冷却和辐射安全问题需要更多的设计工作和模拟。此外，目标区域必须使用锂和铍等困难材料，才能产生大量的8Li。因此，中微子产生目标的设计需要精心设计。该奖项资助的工作是将目标工程和冷却模拟提高到具有实际成本的完整详细设计水平。它还将资助冷却模拟的原型测试。提出的目标和冷却设计研究将探索针对高强度光束的新方法的可行性。这具有很高的智力价值，因为高功率目标是整个强度前沿计划的一个重要问题。因此，这个奖项有可能在粒子物理的多个领域产生变革。此外，开发一种高强度的反中微子源，可以用于任何大型氢基中微子探测器，这将为未来的大范围实验开辟可能。

Neutrinos from accelerators and nuclear reactors have played a central role in our understanding of the properties of these elusive, hard-to-observe fundamental particles. Three different types of neutrino are known to exist, having been detected through their interaction via one of the known forces of nature. A fourth type of neutrino has been postulated, a so-called light sterile neutrino, that is presumed to only interact via gravity. This award funds the R&D and engineering necessary to bring the IsoDAR (Isotope Decay-At-Rest) experiment from the stage of a Conceptual Design Report to a Preliminary Design Report. IsoDAR is a novel, pure electron-antineutrino source that, when paired with an underground detector, allows for searches for sterile neutrinos and non-standard interactions. The issue that needs to be addressed is the high intensity targeting on a neutrino production target which has, so far, been studied with simulations and some initial engineering studies.Associated with this project, this program addresses four areas: 1) development of a globally competitive STEM workforce; 2) increased participation of women and minorities; 3) increased partnerships between academia and industry; and 4) improved well-being of individuals in society. This project will include a graduate student and students from the summer REU program, which averages 75% female participants. It will give them the opportunity to apprentice with industry contractors. Finally, this work has relevance for strong industrial collaboration because of the use of bright accelerators for isotope production and Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) technology, applied, for example, to driving thorium reactors, thus supporting the development of safe nuclear energy sources.The IsoDAR antineutrino rates seem achievable with the proposed proton beam rates, but target cooling and radiation safety issues need more design work coupled with simulations. In addition, the target region has to use difficult materials such as lithium and beryllium to allow a large amount of 8Li to be produced. Thus, the design of the neutrino production target needs to be carefully engineered. The work being funded in this award is to bring the target engineering and cooling simulations to the level of a full detailed design with realistic costing. It will also fund a prototype test of the cooling simulation. The proposed target and cooling design study will explore the feasibility of new methods to target very high intensity beams. This is of high intellectual merit since high power targetry is an important question throughout the Intensity Frontier program. Thus, this award has the potential to be transformative in multiple areas of particle physics. In addition, developing a high intensity antineutrino source that can be taken to any large hydrogen-based neutrino detector will open up a large range possible future experiments.