Development of a 10 m SANS Instrument for Materials Research and Student Training

在美国国家标准与技术研究所的中子研究中心(NCNR)，来自美国各地的科学家和工程师使用中子来探测亚微观结构和分子运动，这些结构和分子运动决定了从混凝土到细胞膜的各种材料的性能。使用的主要技术之一是小角中子散射(SANS)，它专门探测1 nm到500 nm范围内的材料微结构。为了应对大学研究人员对SANS测量日益增长的需求，NCNR通过其NSF赞助的高分辨率中子散射中心(CHRNS)，已承诺翻新一台已有20年历史的中分辨率8米长SANS仪器，并通过其用户程序提供翻新仪器上50%的束流时间。此外，10米SANS的另外20%的束流时间将专门用于研究生培训和早期论文研究。这种束流时间的分配代表了一种新的方法来提高国家用户设施的教育效益，并培养具有中子散射技术知识和技能的下一代研究人员。美国国家标准与技术研究所的中子研究中心(NCNR)目前运营着两台30米长的小角中子散射(SANS)仪器，就中子通量、测量范围、多功能性和易用性而言，它们是北美最好的，与世界上最好的此类仪器竞争。为了回应对SANS测量的持续需求，NCNR通过其NSF赞助的高分辨率中子散射中心(CHRNS)，已承诺翻新一台已有20年历史的中分辨率8米长SANS仪器，并通过其用户程序提供翻新仪器上50%的束流时间。现代化的仪器将具有10米的工作长度和测量范围，可以满足大约一半到三分之二的SANS用户实验的要求。此外，10米SANS的另外20%的束流时间将专门用于研究生培训和早期论文研究。这种束流时间的分配代表了一种新的方法，以提高国家用户设施的教育效益，并培养具有中子散射技术知识和技能的下一代研究人员。

At National Institute of Standards and Technology's Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) scientists and engineers from around the U.S. use neutrons to probe the sub-microscopic structures and molecular motions that determine the properties of materials ranging from concrete to cell membranes. One of the principal techniques used is small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), which specifically probes materials microstructure in the range from 1 nm to 500 nm. In response to increasing demand from university researchers for SANS measurements, the NCNR, through its NSF sponsored Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering (CHRNS), has undertaken to renovate a 20-year-old, medium resolution 8-m long SANS instrument, and to make 50 % of the beam time on the refurbished instrument available through its user program. In addition, another 20 % of the beam time on the 10-m SANS would be set aside specifically for graduate student training and early stage thesis research. This allocation of beam time represents a novel approach to enhancing the educational benefit of a national user facility and to developing the next generation of researchers knowledgeable and skilled in neutron scattering techniques.The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) currently operates two 30-m long small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) instruments that, in terms of neutron flux, measurement range, versatility and ease of use, are the best in North America and competitive with the best such instruments in the world. In response to the sustained demand for SANS measurements, the NCNR, through its NSF sponsored Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering (CHRNS), has undertaken to renovate a 20-year-old, medium resolution 8-m long SANS instrument, and to make 50 % of the beam time on the refurbished instrument available through its user program. The modernized instrument would have a working length of 10 meters and a measurement range that would satisfy the requirements of roughly one-half to two-thirds of SANS user experiments. In addition, another 20 % of the beam time on the 10-m SANS would be set aside specifically for graduate student training and early stage thesis research. This allocation of beam time represents a novel approach to enhancing the educational benefit of a national user facility and to developing the next generation of researchers knowledgeable and skilled in neutron scattering techniques.