DOE's Spallation Neutron Source has posted more firsts in its procession to full operation. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently opened a shutter that allowed an instrument to receive and count neutrons for the first time. Those neutrons also were the first "cold neutrons" produced at SNS from the facility's cryogenic moderator system. Neutrons are literally chilled with liquid hydrogen to remove thermal energy, which makes them more suitable for studying certain types of materials such as biological samples. The instrument, the Backscattering Spectrometer, will be one of up to 24 instruments that will analyze a range of materials for the neutron science community. The SNS created its first neutrons in late April.
Menu