Current status of the neutron application program at TRR-II

Abstract

This paper describes the current status of the neutron application program at the Taiwan Research Reactor-II (TRR-II) project. It has been more than two years since the project was officially approved in October 1998. In addition to the completion of the basic designs of the core, the core block, and the experimental facilities, some achievements related to the application promotion are also accomplished. In the past two years, the project team invited more than 50 foreign experts to TRR-II to discuss various design issues related to the reactor and experimental facilities. As a multi-purpose research reactor, its scope includes facilities such as fuel/material irradiation, isotope production, neutron activation analysis, neutron transmutation doping, cold neutron source and guides, and neutron spectrometers. A special task force was organized in the early stage to promote these applications, especially focused on the area of neutron scattering, which had not been well organized before. Up to now, the team has completed the preliminary market planning for general irradiation facilities, and the following are the major achievements for promotion of neutron scattering applications: • Establish collaboration agreements with NIST (formal), ILL, and FRM-II for personnel training. • Subcontract with domestic professors to promote neutron scattering related research in Taiwan. • Co-Sponsor large-scale workshops and conferences (average two times per year). • Invite foreign experts specialized in neutron scattering for mini-workshops or topical meetings (average 5–8 times per year). • Discussion on establishing an independent “Neutron Application Research Center” to encourage the involvement of domestic professors and students.