ORNL Neutron Science Program

The ORNL Neutron Science Program will consist of three research facilities, plus an institute for neutron sciences and a guest housing facility. The intent is for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), and the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) to operate seamlessly from the user point of view. Available to users will be both a pulsed source (SNS) and a steady-state source, the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) Center for Neutron Scattering. Both facilities offer one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art instruments and support.

Facility Status

SNS can accommodate up to 24 instruments. (Click for details.)

SNS

The SNS construction project was officially completed in May 2006. By fall 2006, SNS expects to select initial users for its first three instruments: the Backscattering Spectrometer, Liquids Reflectometer, and Magnetism Reflectometer.

Future operational time lines at SNS:

• Summer 2007—power level exceeds 100 kW
• Fall 2007—General User Program in place for first three instruments
• Winter 2008—1-MW capability, with seven instruments available through the General User Program

The HFIR Center for Neutron Scattering will have 15 state-of-the-art neutron-scattering instruments that will be among the world's best. (Click for details.)

HFIR

In 2003, major upgrades to HFIR began:

• 15 state-of-the-art neutron-scattering instruments
• a cold source brightness comparable to the world’s best
• improved thermal neutron intensity
• new computer control systems with user-friendly software
• new guide hall for small-angle neutron scattering
• improved availability

These new capabilities are expected to be operational in December 2006.

Other ORNL Resources

One of the CNMS state-of-the-art laboratories. (Click for larger image.)

CNMS Located adjacent to SNS, CNMS is one of five nanoscale science research centers being established in the United States. CNMS is a collaborative nanoscience user research facility for the synthesis, characterization, theory/ modeling/ simulation, and design of nanoscale materials. Along with X-ray studies, neutron research is expected to have significant impact on nanophase reseach. Please see the CMNS web site for guidelines on submitting proposals.

National Center for Computational Sciences

To support the ORNL Neutron Science Program, the ORNL National Center for Computational Sciences (NCCS) provides some of the fastest computational capabilities in the world, able to perform more than 40 trillion calculations per second. Investigations by researchers nationwide range from materials science to astrophysics, combustion to fusion simulations, and beyond. This on-site user facility is readily available to SNS, HFIR, and CNMS users. Groups dedicated to providing first-class sampling environments and data acquisition and controls support are also in place.

High Temperature Materials Laboratory

Another ORNL facility, the High Temperature Materials Laboratory is expected to provide more opportunities for applications of neutron research. Instruments available at the six user centers have extensive capabilities for characterizing the microstructure, microchemistry, and physical and mechanical properties of materials over a wide range of temperatures.

Capabilities:

• Friction and wear testing
• Mechanical characterization
• Microstructure analysis
• Residual stress
• Termography & thermophysical properties
• X-ray & Neutron Diffraction
  
  

Key Contacts for Neutron Scattering at ORNL

• Key Neutron Sciences Contacts
• Key User Contacts
• HFIR Instrument Contacts
• SNS User Office
• HFIR User Office
• SNS and HFIR User Group (SHUG)
• CNMS User Office
• Extensive list of CNMS user contacts
• Extensive list of HTML user contacts
• National Center for Computational Sciences
• SNS Scientific Computing
• SNS Data Acquisition and Controls
• SNS Procurement Contacts