The nELBE neutron time-of-flight facility

At the superconducting electron linear accelerator ELBE at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf the neutron time-of-flight facility nELBE has become operational. Fast neutrons in the energy range from 200 keV to 10 MeV are produced by the pulsed electron beam from ELBE impinging on a liquid lead circuit as a radiator. The short beam pulses of 10 ps provide the basis for an excellent time resolution for neutron time-of-flight experiments, giving an energy resolution of about <1% at 1 MeV with a short ight path of 5 m. The neutron intensity on target is ≈ 4*10^4 n/(cm2s) using an electron bunch charge of 77 pC and 100 kHz pulse repetition rate. The energy range of the neutrons produced is well suited for neutron cross section measurements relevant for the development of Generation IV reactor systems and for the transmutation of nuclear waste. First measurements of inelastic neutron scattering cross sections have been performed and will be presented.