NEUTRON CONTROL DEVICE AND NEUTRON IRRADIATION APPARATUS

The neutron irradiation apparatus includes an introduction tube for introducing a proton beam, a target structure provided in a lower end of the introduction tube, an aluminum fluoride layer disposed below the target structure in an irradiation path of neutrons generated in the target structure, and a heavy water layer placed under the aluminum fluoride layer in layers. The aluminum fluoride layer is set at a thickness that increases epithermal neutrons. Since use of only the aluminum fluoride layer increases its thickness too much, heavy water is placed. Heavy water moderates neutrons quickly, and allows increasing epithermal neutrons without increasing the thickness. The combination of the aluminum fluoride layer and the heavy water layer allows increasing epithermal neutrons by attenuating only fast neutrons without increasing thermal neutrons. Accordingly, neutron flux with many epithermal neutrons is obtained.