Abstract
The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), a new Department of Energy facility located at ORNL, is the latest step in the development of accelerator-based neutron research facilities. SNS boasts a tenfold increase in neutron production over the most powerful short-pulse spallation facility in existence
today, ISIS, located at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the United Kingdom. It will ultimately be powered by a 2-MW, 1-GeV, 1-MHz proton linear accelerator measuring 1100 feet in length. One thousand beam pulses will be bunched in a ring and then directed to a flowing liquid mercury target that will convert the protons to a pulse of approximately 5 ? 1015 neutrons. The neutrons will then be slowed to useful energies and guided to 24 instruments
where scientists from around the world will have the opportunity to undertake basic research in materials science.