Neutron Sciences Directorate

1996 - DOE advisory committee recommended that SNS be designed to eventually operate at a significantly higher power and include additional target stations.

1999 - Environmental Impact Statement for SNS included a second target station.

2002 - The National Science Foundation commissioned a study on adding a short-pulse Second Target Station for SNS.

2007 - ORNL conducted a conceptual study to investigate the possibility of a second long-pulse target station for SNS. DOE issued the Interim Report on Facilities for the Future of Science, identifying the need for an SNS power upgrade and a Second Target Station.

2009 - DOE approved Critical Decision-0 (CD-0), acknowledging the scientific need for a Second Target Station.

2011, 2012 - Using laboratory directed research and development funds, ORNL conducted a study on optimizing neutron scattering at three ORNL facilities and developed the concept for a compact source coupled to a high-brightness moderator.

2013 - A DOE advisory committee noted that the proposed Second Target Station is “absolutely central” to US leadership in science but had significant scientific/engineering challenges to resolve.

2013, 2014 - ORNL hosted Grand Challenge workshops across the US, collecting the science community’s input on emerging science needs that require research using neutrons. Input helped shape the science case. A technical design report was produced describing the sub-system conceptual design approaches.

2015 - ORNL hosted a user workshop organized by the SNS and HFIR User Group to further develop the STS science case and refine and rank proposed instrument concepts.

2015 - Project management team formed.

2016 - Funding received to kick off development of conceptual design.

2018 - Remainder of funding nessecary to complete the conceptual design recieved.