For over 50 years research reactors have supported developments in neutron beam research, new materials, and component integrity testing, and are expected to continue to do so in the coming decades. The scientific and technological problems being addressed using neutron beams are becoming increasingly large and complex that research reactors alone will not be able to cater to all the requirements. They will need to be complemented by neutron beams from spallation neutron sources, where the extremely high peak neutron fluxes and time structure of the pulsed neutron beam opens up numerous new experimental opportunities. This CRP will initiate a number of research, development, and demonstration activities that need to be undertaken to make this technology more readily available and to a wider community by way of a future global network of low and medium energy spallation neutron sources. Through this CRP, it will be investigated how high-end technologies from the flagship neutron sources can be cost-effectively adapted to lesser powered neutron sources, while assuring best experimental conditions for users in both the developing nations and industrially developed Member States. The CRP outputs would not only benefit spallation neutron facilities, but also the existing workhorse research reactors
To enhance the utilization possibilities of low and medium energy spallation neutron sources for research and development in neutron science and applications, by increasing neutron supply at sources and by improving optimum use of neutron techniques in interested Member States.
To develop compact small angle neutron scattering (SANS) instruments, with mini-focusing properties, for simultaneous installation at neutron beamline.
To improve capability of strain determination through time-of-flight neutron measurements: experiment and user friendly implementation of the methodology to extract the desired information from the measured cross-sections.
To improve neutron beam flux via development of cryogenic moderators.
To improve neutron beam resolution via study of new collimator, focusing devices, and monochromators.
Advances in the design of SANS instrumentation using focusing were both calculated and demonstrated. A new pelletized moderator system was designed at Dubna, JINR, Russia.
This CRP had several themes. Many of them were relevant to both advanced and developing countries:
1) Focusing optics were developed (Czech Republic) and the application for compact focusing SANS was both demonstrated in Japan and the concept passed to Malaysia and Indonesia.
2) Improvements in scattering kernels resulted in new cold moderators being developed in China, and a concept for a cool (solid ice at 100 K) moderator in India.
3) The concept of a solid, cold pelletized moderator based around aromatic compounds with better radiation resistivity than methane, was developed at JINR, Russian Federation
4) Bragg transmission was demonstrated and code developed that allows texture, particle size, and strain measurement at compact accelerator-based neutron sources that could be developed in almost any country.