Proton Bombardment in Mercury Target for Neutron Production - Impact Dynamics on Interface between Liquid and Solid Metals

Abstract

Innovative researches using neutrons are being performed at the Materials & Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) in the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), in which a mercury target system is installed as MW-class pulse spallation neutron sources. In order to produce neutrons by the spallation reaction, proton beams are injected into the mercury target. At the moment when the intense proton beam hits the target, pressure waves are generated in mercury because of abrupt heat deposition. The pressure waves interact with the target vessel leading to negative pressure that may cause cavitation along the vessel wall, i.e. the interface between liquid and solid metals. Localized impacts by microjets and/or shock waves that are caused by cavitation bubble collapse impose pitting damage on the vessel wall. The pitting damage that degrades the structural integrity of the target vessel is a crucial issue for the high power mercury targets. Therefore, the mitigation techniques for the pitting damages and cavitation are needed to reach the MW-class pulsed spallation neutron sources.