acceleratordriven

Acceleratordriven refers to technologies and systems whose operation is powered or initiated by an external particle accelerator. In this usage, the accelerator serves as a primary energy or neutron source that drives subsequent processes, rather than relying on self-sustaining reactions alone. The term is most often associated with accelerator-driven systems in nuclear science and engineering, but it can also describe other facilities where beams from accelerators enable the main function.

A central example is the accelerator-driven system (ADS), which combines a subcritical nuclear reactor core with a high-intensity particle accelerator. In an ADS, protons from the accelerator strike a heavy-metal spallation target, producing a large number of neutrons. These neutrons then enter a subcritical core, where fission reactions are sustained only with the external neutron source. Because the reactor remains subcritical (keff below 1) when the accelerator is off, the system can be shut down quickly by stopping the beam, offering enhanced safety features. Typical components include the accelerator (often a linear accelerator or superconducting linac), the spallation target, a neutron transport and shielding system, and the subcritical core with its cooling and support infrastructure.

Applications associated with acceleratordriven concepts include transmutation of long-lived nuclear waste, production of medical isotopes, and research neutron sources. They also serve as platforms for studying novel reactor physics and high-intensity neutron science, complementing traditional critical reactors and purely accelerator-based facilities.

Key advantages of acceleratordriven designs are improved intrinsic safety, flexibility in operation, and the potential to burn problematic isotopes. Major challenges include the capital and operational costs of reliable high-power accelerators, material and thermal stresses on targets, and complex regulatory pathways. Notable ongoing efforts include demonstration programs and research projects aiming to validate ADS concepts, such as the MYRRHA project in Belgium.