Beam dump

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A beam dump (also called a beam block, beam stop, or beam trap) is a device that absorbs the energy of a beam of light or other particles. Beam blocks are simple optical pieces that absorb light using a material that soaks up energy and reflects very little. Common materials include certain paints, carbon nanotubes, anodized aluminum, and nickel-phosphate coatings. Beam traps are designed to have no reflected light; they often use similar materials.

A charged-particle beam dump safely absorbs beams of electrons, protons, nuclei, or ions, which is important when a particle accelerator is shut down. The beams can carry megajoules of energy, so heat management is a key challenge.

An example is CERN’s Super Proton Synchrotron dump, made from graphite, molybdenum, and tungsten and surrounded by shielding of concrete, marble, and cast iron. Beam dumps are also used as targets in experiments, such as the Hall A beam dump at Jefferson Lab.