Lifetime and strength tests of tantalum and tungsten under thermal shock for a Neutrino Factory target

A description is given of tests on tantalum and tungsten wires to evaluate their lifetime and strength under the thermal shock that will be experienced when a solid target is bombarded with short pulses of high energy protons in a Neutrino Factory. The results of lifetime tests and measurements of dynamic strength characteristics at high temperatures, stresses and strain rates using a laser Doppler vibrometer are given. The tests show that a solid tungsten target will have a life of at least 3 years, which, with other beneficial characteristics, make it an excellent candidate for the Neutrino Factory.