Neutrons production in heavy extended targets by electrons of energy from 15 to 1000 MeV

Abstract We present the results of calculation of energy spectra of the neutrons produced in heavy spallation targets in the form of Pb and W rods by electrons of 200 MeV to 1 GeV energy. The spectra are compared with similar distributions of neutrons generated by 1 GeV protons in the same targets. For electrons in the energy range of 15–240 MeV interacting with Pb and Cu targets our calculated data are also compared with available experimental results. The conclusion is made that the shape of neutrons energy spectra created by both 1 GeV protons and electrons are acceptably comparable below ∼1 MeV whilst above this value electronuclear neutrons are large enough in number to be used as a spallation neutron source for several aims like transmutation and incineration at least at the experimental level. Moreover, the heat release and remnant radioactivity of investigated targets have also been calculated. All calculations are performed by using MCNPX and FLUKA codes.