Progress towards Operation of a Deuterium Cold Neutron Source at the NCNR

Abstract

Abstract The NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) operates a 20 MW research reactor that produces neutrons for a suite of 30 neutron scattering instruments. 70% of these instruments use cold neutrons (E<5 meV), which are moderated by two separate cold neutron sources. The cold moderator for both sources is liquid hydrogen (LH2), which is in turn cooled by a recently commissioned 7 kW, 14K helium refrigerator. NCNR plans to replace the larger cold source with a new one operating with liquid deuterium (LD2). This report focuses on progress towards the upgrade to liquid deuterium, and options to address the particular challenges of designing and operating a cooling system that simultaneously supports operation with both LH2 and LD2.