480 MeV proton on tungsten I
Here we see a bold proton which generously produced 25 neutrons in a single inelastic collision. While this is the underlying principle behind spallation neutron sources, 25 is generous of a proton at 480 MeV. This history has been cherry-picked (for the generous supply of spallation neutrons) from a simulation of 480 MeV protons impinging a 12 cm-deep tungsten target of dimensions 8 cm × 5 cm in beam’s eye view. The application is for the spallation neutrons to enter the warm moderator and cold moderator, eventually slowed down to ultra cold energies, stored in a bottled before being released to experimentalists as a unique probe into matter and creation. Particles attempting to escape are hurdled through shielding blocks of steel, concrete and hematite aggregates, to protect personnel, instruments and electronics downstream.
