1. ANSTO is Australia’s only nuclear science and technology facility
Home of the new OPAL reactor
One of the world’s best nuclear research reactors
ANSTO is Australia’s only Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and home of the new OPAL reactor – one of the world’s best nuclear research reactors.

2. The work we do addresses some of the key challenges of our time
Climate change, water resource management, materials engineering & other scientific disciplines
The work we do here at ANSTO is very broad, we have researchers applying nuclear science and technology to climate change, water resource management, materials engineering and other key scientific disciplines.  We also have some of the world’s most advanced neutron scattering capabilities.
We have the world’s most advanced neutron scattering capabilities

3. ANSTO also produces radiopharmaceuticals
Used by hospitals, GPs and dentists daily
In fact - if you’ve had an X-ray, you’re doctor probably used radiopharmaceuticals from ANSTO
ANSTO also produces radiopharmaceuticals that are used by hospitals, GPs and dentists every day.  In fact, if you have had an X-ray, the machine that took your X-ray probably used radiopharmaceuticals from ANSTO.  (Option to ask students to put up their hands if they have had an X-ray to demonstrate point)

4. Professor Michael James August 2010
Neutron Scattering – Inside one of the world’s best neutron research facilities
Professor Michael James
August 2010

5. Areas of Neutron Science
Phase Transitions
Energy
Atomic Structure
Nano technology
Batteries
Complex Fluids
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Engineered Materials
Food
Magnetic Memory

6. Research Reactor vs Power Reactor
Power: MW MW
Uranium: kg ,000 kg
Temp: C C
Uses: Generates neutrons for Generates steam for
Radioisotopes, Si and Science Electricity

7. What Happens During Fission?
neutron
U-235
energy
neutrons
fission fragments
Speed of fission neutrons 12,000,000 m/s
(speed of light: 300,000,000 m/s)
Fission neutrons are too fast to be captured by the next uranium atom.
They need to be slowed down so that the fission reaction can continue.
Neutrons lose energy by colliding with heavy water (D2O) around the core.
This generates heat.
Bragg Institute
includes: The Australian Synchrotron Research Program (ASRP) provides Australian researchers with access to state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation research capabilities at overseas synchrotron light source facilities.

8. Neutrons: Faster than a speeding bullet
Cold Neutrons (-250 C) ~800 m/s
~450 m/s
Thermal Neutrons (60 C) ~2000 m/s
(Cherenkov Radiation)
From Here
To Here
Neutrons travel ~80 m in 0.04 s

9. X-rays scatter from the electron cloud
X-rays vs Neutrons
X-rays scatter from the electron cloud
Scattering depends on isotopes: 1H (hydrogen: 1e-, 1p+) is different to 2H (deuterium: 1e-, 1p+, 1n)
neutrons
Neutrons scatter from the nucleus
X-rays
X-ray scattering depends on atomic number (Z).
According to neutrons ~ % of matter is “empty space”

10. What Happens When a Neutron Hits Matter?
Mostly nothing!!!
Allows us to study materials under extreme environments:
Temperature C to C
Pressure: Up to 10,000 atm
Magnetic Field: 12 Tesla
It can be adsorbed.
(neutron radiography)
Sometimes, it scatters…
This is what we measure in neutron scattering experiments.

11. Neutron Instruments Platypus Quokka Wombat Koala Kowari Taipan Echidna
Sika
Bragg Institute
includes: The Australian Synchrotron Research Program (ASRP) provides Australian researchers with access to state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation research capabilities at overseas synchrotron light source facilities.
Kookaburra
Dingo
Bilby
Emu
Pelican

12. Neutron Scattering Instruments at OPAL
Three Axis Spectrometers
Neutron Scattering
Instruments
at OPAL
Taipan Sika
Radiography
Dingo
NANO STRUCTURES
Polarization Spectrometer
Pelican
Backscattering
Emu
High Speed
Diffractometer
Wombat
USANS
Kookaburra
High Resolution
Diffractometer
Echidna
Reflectometer
Platypus
Residual Stress
Kowari
Quasi-Laue
Diffractometer
Koala
ATOMIC STRUCTURES
Small Angle Scattering
Quokka
Bilby

13. Monitoring of atomic structure during device application.
New Energy Technologies Correlating Properties with Atomic Structure (Neutron Powder Diffraction)
Gives the location of light elements in the presence of heavy metal atoms.
Battery Materials
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Hydrogen Storage
Monitoring of atomic structure during device application.

14. In-situ Diffraction of Li-ion Battery Cycling
5min/run
60hrs 20
115 2q
Charged
Discharged

15. Non-Destructive Testing of Engineered Materials
(Stress determination to improve the reliability of critical components)
Non-destructive mapping of mechanical stresses.
When pipelines get stressed…
Welds, joints, hardening, quenching… Metals, alloys and composites…
From the production line or after use.

16. Neutrons and Nanotechnology
Surfactants
Materials used in countless industrial preparations are based on molecular nano-composites
Stabilised Polymer Emulsions
Conducting Polymers
Liquid Crystals
Biomolecular Interactions

17. Nanoscale Thin Films (Neutron Reflectometry)
Data in modern digital devices is stored on nanoscale magnetic thin films
Study of diseases such as cholera, Alzheimer’s, and pneumonia are possible using artificial cell membranes
Neutrons can probe both structure and magnetism
Vapour given off from explosives can switch-off light-generating molecules called dendrimers

18. Any Questions?