Induced radioactivity in a mercury target and solenoid for a 24 GeV proton target test

In the framework of the feasibility study for a future neutrino-production facility, an experiment has been proposed at CERN as a proof-of-principle demonstration of a target system based on a free mercury jet suitable for use in a 4-MW pulsed proton beam. This paper estimates the expected amount of induced radioactivity in the various components of the target-solenoid assembly of the experiment to be carried out at the 24 GeV CERN proton synchrotron. The total activity expected in the mercury target and the specific activities in the components of the solenoid are assessed by Monte Carlo simulations with the FLUKA code. The residual dose rates for various decay times after the end of the irradiation are calculated. The environmental impact of the release of the activated nitrogen used to cool the solenoid is evaluated.