Fifteen neutron beam instruments are either operational or being commissioned at the new OPAL reactor. ANSTO expects to add more instruments in future. Other instruments and a suite of sample-environment equipment allows studies at different temperatures, pressures and magnetic fields. Scientific references are available for most instruments.
Instruments
Neutron Scattering
Echidna - High Resolution Powder Diffractometer
Neutron powder diffraction is particularly useful for materials with light elements in the presence of heavy ones and for magnetic materials such as superconductors, pharmaceuticals, aerospace alloys and much more.
Wombat is a high intensity neutron diffractometer that is primarily used as a high-speed powder diffractometer, but has also expanded into texture characterisation and single-crystal measurement, particularly diffuse scattering.
Koala is one of the leading small-molecule crystallography instruments in the world for determining the complex crystal structure of a wide range of chemicals and minerals.
The Platypus instrument can be used to study all-manner of surface-science and interface problems, particularly related to magnetic recording materials and for polymer coatings, biosensors and artificial biological membranes.
Taipan is used to study the collective motion of atoms, phonons and magnons in materials, and phase transitions and processes involving thermal energy.
The instrument is very well suited for the study of kinetic effects, like relaxation following a chemical reaction, or external impulses like mechanical deformation, an electric or magnetic field.
Theinstrument is typically used to study diffusing water molecules or yet larger molecules like polymers or biological molecules. In addition, Emu can reveal quantum-mechanical tunnelling.
The Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering Laboratories consists of four laboratories adjacent to the Neutron Guide Hall within the OPAL Neutron Beam Facility.
