ZEA-1 visits the European Spallation Source (ESS)

The European Spallation Neutron Source ESS, located in Lund / Sweden, is currently in the construction phase and is expected to begin partial load operation in 2025. The ESS will be the most powerful accelerator-driven neutron source in the world.

After a successful design review and start of production for the second moderator & reflector plug (MRP II), the ZEA-1 project team with department and group leaders visited the ESS on November 5, 2024. This is one of the last opportunities to visit areas of the ESS that will no longer be accessible after the start of operations.

Many key components that were developed, manufactured and tested at ZEA-1 have already been installed at ESS. For example, ZEA-1 delivered the first Moderator & Reflector Plug (MRP I), the Hydrogen Cryostat, the Target Monitoring Plug (TMP), the Neutron Beam Port Inserts (NBPI) and with JCNS the neutron scattering instruments DREAM and SKADI, making it one of the most important partners of ESS.

A particularly large number of ZEA-1 components (MRP I, TMP, NBPI’s) are installed in the target monolith (Picture 2). This is where the actual neutron release takes place by means of a spallation reaction and subsequent moderation. The neutron scattering instruments such as DREAM and SKADI are positioned all around.

To trigger the spallation reaction, high-energy protons are required, which are accelerated to almost the speed of light in the proton accelerator shown in Picture 3 and directed towards the spallation target, whereby neutrons are released.