Advanced Neutron Scattering Network for Education and Research with a Focus on Mechanical Behavior

田纳西大学的国际材料研究所[IMI]与橡树岭国家实验室结成了强有力的合作伙伴关系，支持国际中子散射社区在先进材料的机械行为领域开展创新的多学科材料教育和研究。IMI的目标是：[1]发展积极参与中子散射材料研究的研究人员和教育工作者的国际网络；[2]通过合作研究和课程开发项目促进科学和教育信息的交流；[3)通过为美国学生、科学家和工程师提供培训和使用世界各地的研究计划和设施，发展一支世界级的中子科学工作队伍；[4]确定和领导创新材料研究工作；以及[5]建立一个基于互联网的国际虚拟研究所。核心研究领域包括[1]力学行为的现场研究；[2]内应力的实时测量；[3]微观结构的现场研究；以及[4]与实验研究相辅相成的理论建模。最重要的是，IMI将在尖端中子研究方面培训年轻科学家，灌输超越学科和地区界限的能力和动力，并整合来自多个领域的知识以解决全球问题。因此，主要成果之一将是拥有一支具有独特教育和研究背景的世界级中子科学工作队伍。%田纳西大学的国际材料研究所[IMI]与橡树岭国家实验室[ORNL]结成了强有力的合作伙伴关系，支持在先进材料的机械行为领域开展创新的多学科材料教育和研究的国际中子散射社区。中子散射是材料研究中最强大的表征技术之一，其经过验证的能力和预期的潜力证明了在ORNL建造散裂中子源[SNS]的14亿美元是合理的，并在新墨西哥州的洛斯阿拉莫斯中子科学中心[LANSCE]、伊利诺伊州的强脉冲中子源[IPNS]和田纳西州的高通量同位素反应堆[HFIR]进行了一系列数百万美元的设施升级。国际上中子学领域的竞争十分激烈，欧盟、日本、中国、澳大利亚等国也在建设或设计下一代中子源。通过IMI，一群在中子散射材料研究领域最活跃的研究人员将形成一个国际网络，为促进中子散射在材料研究中的应用，特别是先进材料的力学行为的科学、教育和培训提供协同努力。拟议的IMI的主要目标是[1]通过向中子散射材料研究界提供国际合作教育和研究机会，[1]完成将美国的中子科学推向世界领先地位的国家议程，并[2]培养本科生、研究生和研究生水平的年轻科学家，以充分利用世界各地的中子设施，大幅扩大新材料的开发，从而在中子科学领域建立全球领先地位。

The International Materials Institute [IMI] at the University of Tennessee, in a strong partnership with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, supports the international neutron-scattering community for innovative, multidisciplinary materials education and research in the area of mechanical behavior of advanced materials. The participants include 16 universities worldwide, 7 neutron user facilities worldwide, and 8 US industries.The objectives of the IMI are to: [1] develop an international network of researchers and educators who are actively involved in neutron-scattering materials research; [2] facilitate the exchange of scientific and educational information through collaborative research and curriculum-development projects; [3] develop a world-class work force in neutron science by providing US students, scientists, and engineers the training and access to research programs and facilities worldwide; [4] identify and lead innovative materials-research efforts; and [5] establish an international Internet-based virtual institute. The core research thrust areas include [1] in-situ studies of mechanical behavior; [2] real-time measurements of internal stresses; [3] in-situ studies of microstructures; and [4] theoretical modeling that complements the experimental studies.The broader impacts of the IMI activities are multi-faceted. Most importantly, IMI will train young scientists in the cutting-edge neutron research, instilling the ability and motivation to go beyond disciplinary and regional boundaries, and integrate knowledge from multiple areas to address global problems. Therefore, one of the major outcomes will be a world-class scientific work force in neutron science with a unique education and research background. %%%The International Materials Institute [IMI] at the University of Tennessee, in a strong partnership with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory [ORNL], supports an international neutron-scattering community for innovative, multidisciplinary materials education and research in the area of mechanical behavior of advanced materials. Neutron scattering is one of the most powerful characterization techniques available for materials research, and its proven capabilities and anticipated potential justify the 1.4 billion dollar construction of the Spallation Neutron Source [SNS] at ORNL as well as a number of multi-million dollar facility upgrades at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center [LANSCE], New Mexico, Intense Pulsed Neutron Source [IPNS], Illinois, and High Flux Isotope Reactor [HFIR], Tennessee. The international competition is fierce in the neutron-science arena, e.g., the European Union [EU], Japan, China, and Australia are also currently building or designing the next-generation neutron sources. Through the IMI, a group of the most active researchers in the neutron-scattering materials research field will form an international network to provide a synergistic effort in advancing the science, education, and training on the application of neutron scattering in materials research, specifically regarding the study of mechanical behavior of advanced materials. The main goals of the proposed IMI are to [1] accomplish the national agenda of advancing neutron science in the US to the leadership position in the world by providing international cooperative education and research opportunities to the neutron-scattering materials research community, and [2] train young scientists at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels to fully utilize the neutron facilities worldwide for dramatically expanding the development of new materials, and thereby, establish a global leadership in the neutron-science arena.