Neutron Sciences Directorate

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is moving forward with a conceptual design for a long planned third neutron source: the second target station at SNS, to address emerging science challenges. 

The second target station will complement ORNL capabilities at the SNS first target station and HFIR by filling gaps in materials research that require the combined use of intense, cold (longer wavelength) neutrons and instruments that are optimized for exploration of complex materials: 

• Soft matter and biological structures, which are important to drug development and the creation of safer and more effective chemicals for everyday products like detergents, paints, and environmentally responsible films for solar panels
• Magnetism at the meso-scale, which must be better understood to further the development of quantum computing, improving data storage, and securing digital information
• Advanced engineered materials, like 3D-printed composites (alloys) for spacecraft, military, and aerospace applications
• Interfacial chemistry, in solid-liquid, liquid-liquid, and solid-gas systems, which plays a key role in chemical production and many technologies, such as biosensors, batteries, adhesives, and electronics

Jill advice on ICONS here

Drugs, Solar Panels, Batteries, Quantum Computer, Digital Security, Spacecraft & future car (that repeatedly print themselves (gif))

Providing more advanced capabilities

Studying complex structures from atomic- to nano-length scales requires larger quantities of long-wavelength neutrons, a broader range of wavelengths, and a higher peak brightness. The STS will produce more cold (long wavelength) neutrons, have a 4x greater range of wavelengths, and deliver a pulsed brightness 40x greater than currently available in the US—all to better investigate atomic structures as well as vibrations and magnetic properties in real time.

With a new suite of world-leading instruments boasting the latest advances in high-resolution optics, instrument design, and neutron spin manipulation, the STS will deliver instrument-specific performance gains 100x to 1,000x better than existing instruments.

ORNL’s neutron facilities attract over 1,200 of the world’s top materials researchers each year to conduct experiments they can’t perform elsewhere. To date, these researchers represent 40+ countries, 500+ academic institutions, 70+ companies , and 90+ scientific institutions. A partial list of research partners includes: