Author:
Vanbergen Sean,Schreyer Wolfgang,Ahmed Shomi,Andalib Taraneh,Barnes Mike,Bell Beryl,Chak Jason,Cudmore Elspeth,Franke Beatrice,Giampa Pietro,Gnyp Patricia,Hahn Moritz,Hansen-Romu Sean,Hatanaka Kichiji,Jones David,Katsika Katerina,Kawasaki Shinsuke,Korkmaz Elie,Madison Kirk,Mammei Juliette,Mammei Russell,Marshall Cameron,Martin Jeffery,Matsumiya Ryohei,Mishima Kenji,Okamura Takahiro,Picker Ruediger,Pierre Edgard,Ramsay Des,Remon Gelo,Sidhu Steve,Thorsteinson Brendan,van Oers Willem
Abstract
Ultracold neutrons (UCNs) are a powerful tool for probing the Standard Model at high precision. The TRIUMF Ultracold Advanced Neutron (TUCAN) collaboration is building a new UCN source to provide unprecedented densities of UCNs for experiments. This source will use a tantalum-clad tungsten spallation target, receiving up to 40 µA of 480-MeV protons from TRIUMF’s main cyclotron. The beamline and target were constructed from 2014 to 2016 and operated at beam currents up to 10 µA from 2017 to 2019 as part of a prototype UCN source. We describe the design choices for the target and target-handling system, as well as our benchmarking of the target performance using UCN production measurements.