Present status and perspectives on neutron scattering instrumentation development at IPNS

Abstract

Since its beginnings in ZING-P in the early 1970s, the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) at Argonne National Laboratory has played an important role in the development of neutron scattering instrumentation, particularly in the utilization of time-of-flight techniques such as time-focusing for diffractometers. IPNS operates a user program for 11 instruments 25 weeks per year with a call for proposals every 6 months. As a medium-flux user facility, it serves the needs of the broader scientific community while providing training in the design and use of neutron scattering instruments for the next generation of scientists. The instruments at IPNS are continually being upgraded and evaluated; a significantly improved quasielastic neutron spectrometer was commissioned in 2000, and a similar enhancement on the high-resolution, medium-energy-range chopper spectrometer is currently underway. An enhancement plan, which includes improvements to most of the instruments and would approximately double the scientific throughput of IPNS, was recently reviewed and highly recommended. IPNS has lead responsibility for neutron scattering instruments for the Spallation Neutron Source being built at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and has played a leading role in developing a proposal for target station and instruments for a long wavelength target station submitted in January 2001 to the National Science Foundation. Through these and other projects, IPNS will continue to be a source and testbed for novel neutron scattering instrumentation concepts. Thus, IPNS will play a vital role in the global neutron scattering community for the foreseeable future.