3-Li-0(d,x)H-3

Dr Stanislav SIMAKOV at KIT, GER

Fusion (DONES, IFMIF) and Accelerator driven neutron sources (e.g., SARAF-II)

The Li(d,x)t reactions will produce 80% of tritium in the IFMIF Li loop [1]. Consequently the accuracy of the Li(d,x)t cross section will impact on the efficiency, design and cost of the planned IFMIF radio-protection measures such as replacement of the yttrium and cold traps for the long tritium retaining, prevention of its permeation in atmosphere, etc. [2,3].

[1] S. Simakov et al., “Assessment of the 3H and 7Be generation in the IFMIF lithium loop”, J. Nucl. Mat. 329 (2004) 213
[2] A. Ibarra et al., “The European approach to the fusion-like neutron source: the IFMIF-DONES project”, Nuclear Fusion 59 (2019) 065002
[3] F. Martín-Fuertes et al., “Integration of Safety in IFMIF-DONES Design”, Safety 5 (2019) 74

Uncertainties below 10% as a reasonable compromise between application needs and what is practically achievable using standard techniques.

At the requested deuteron energies from 5 MeV up to 40 MeV there are no experimental data for the 6,7Li(d,x)t reaction cross sections; whereas Tritium TTY was measured only once at 40 MeV. The evaluated major deuteron libraries (ENDF, JEFF, FENDL, TENDL) including the just-released JENDL/DEU disagree with known measurements by a factor 2-3.

More details on the status of cross sections and TTY are available in the following documents:
S. Simakov et al., “Status and benchmarking of the deuteron induced Tritium and Beryllium-7 production cross sections in Lithium”, KIT Scientific Working Papers 147, KIT, June 2020; EFFDOC-1438, JEFF Meetings, NEA, November 2020; Presentation at EG HRPL, WPEC Meetings, NEA, 12 May 2021 (see attached file below).

In the case of the tritium spectroscopy experiments, the tritium double-differential data (DDX) for reaction (d,x)H-3 are desirable to measure in the maximum t-energy range and for the representative emission angles to allow integration of DDX and thus obtaining the production cross section σ(d,x)t. However, an activation experiment measuring tritium by its decay or by other direct means is sufficient.

Work in progress (as of SG-C review of May 2021)

Please report any missing information to hprlinfo@oecd-nea.org