Design, Prototyping Activities and Beam Irradiation Test for the New n_{TOF} Neutron Spallation Target

A third-generation neutron spallation target for the neutron time-of-flight facility at CERN (n_{TOF}) is currently undergoing the design and prototyping stage. The new design aims at improving reliability, increasing beam intensity on target and avoiding issues encountered in the current generation target, in particular the contamination of the cooling system water with radioactive spallation products coming from washing out lead. After a preliminary design and an initial prototyping stage*, a baseline solution has been defined consisting in a pure lead target core contained in a Ti-6Al-4V cladding and embedded in a massive Pb block. A backup solution has also been defined, consisting in a Ta-cladded W core embedded in a Pb block. Both solutions are currently undergoing the detailed design stage. This contribution details the prototyping activity, the robustness studies for accidental scenarios and the design of a beam irradiation test on prototypes of the target core.