SGER: A Multi-User Neutron Diffractometer: Conceptual Design

该项目的目标是(1)为将在国家标准与技术研究所中子研究中心运行的薄膜和其他偏序界面系统的结构研究开发单圈中子衍射仪/反射仪的概念设计，(2)确定衍射仪的建造成本，以及(3)通过多机构资助机制制定衍射仪的建造和运行计划。为实现这些目标，已经组建了一个由中子衍射和反射测量以及中子仪器方面的专家组成的规划小组。请拨的资金将用于支持规划小组为实现这些目标而开展的活动。中子衍射在研究各种生物和物理系统的结构方面具有独特的能力。目前，世界范围内缺乏中子装置，特别是用于研究膜和其他界面系统的中子装置。美国唯一的薄膜衍射仪位于布鲁克海文国家实验室的高通量束流反应堆(HFBR)，该反应堆最近被无限期关闭。即使HFBR在未来几年内重新启动，也需要第二台衍射仪，以满足对中子仪器日益增长的需求，并确保为膜结构研究提供不间断的中子供应。NIST拟议的仪器将被设计为具有比现有仪器明显更好的能力，并将是第一个使用冷中子源的薄膜衍射仪。

The objectives of this project are to (1) develop a conceptual design for a single-circle neutron diffractometer/reflectometer for structural studies of membrane and other partially ordered interfacial systems to be operated at Center for Neutron Research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, (2) determine the cost of the construction of the diffractometer, and (3) develop a plan for the construction and operation of the diffractometer through a multi-agency funding mechanism. A Planning Group comprised of experts in neutron diffraction and reflectometry and neutron instrumentation has been assembled to accomplish these objectives. The funds requested will be used to support the Planning Group's activities in the pursuit of the objectives. Neutron diffraction has unique capabilities for structural studies of diverse biological and physical systems. There is presently a world-wide shortage of neutron facilities, especially for studies of membrane and other interfacial systems. The only membrane diffractometer in the United States is located at Brookhaven National Laboratory's High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR), which was recently shut down for an indefinite period of time. Even if the HFBR restarts in the next several years, there is a need for a second diffractometer in order to meet the rising demand for neutron instruments as well as to assure an uninterrupted supply of neutrons for membrane structural studies. The proposed instrument at NIST will be designed to have significantly better capabilities than existing instruments and will be the first membrane diffractometer that uses a cold-neutron source.