Abstract
The 31 March 2018 closure of the National Research Universal reactor marked the end of over 70 years of materials research using neutron beams from major neutron sources at the Chalk River Laboratories in Chalk River, Ontario, Canada. This closure will have a major impact on the Canadian materials research community, including researchers in the physics, chemistry, and engineering of materials. After a brief review of the history of neutron beams at the Chalk River Laboratories, we present the results of a bibliometric study of the scientific output of the research with neutron beams. In this study, we compiled a complete bibliographic record of the research papers beginning with the first neutron scattering experiments at the National Research Experimental reactor in 1947, analyzed the citations from 1980 onward, and benchmarked the results against major neutron beam facilities in other countries and against other major research facilities in Canada. We also conducted a broader bibliometric analysis of the use of neutron scattering data among all Canadians, regardless of where the data were taken. The results provide a useful metric of the size of the Canadian neutron scattering community and places into context the importance of access to this research tool.
Highlights
Canada has a proud heritage in the development and application of neutron beams, recognized as invaluable tools for the study of materials
This change reflected the on-going restructuring of National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) in which NRC needed to refocus on “market-driven research”, while AECL needed to maintain the Canadian Neutron Beam Centre (CNBC) as a nuclear science capability that might continue to be needed for a new nuclear innovation agenda or for the remaining lifetime of the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor—both of which were under consideration by the federal government
The Council report found the subject area of physics and astronomy to have an average of relative citations (ARC) score among the highest of any discipline (1.54), but a low specialization index because of lower than expected publication output
Summary
Canada has a proud heritage in the development and application of neutron beams, recognized as invaluable tools for the study of materials. The 2018–2019 wind-down of neutron beam science at Chalk River was an appropriate time for a retrospective study of the scientific impact such science has had in Canada. This retrospective study was undertaken by the Canadian Neutron Beam Centre and the Canadian Institute for Neutron Scattering, which represents the interests of Canadian researchers who use neutron beams for research. There is an ongoing debate on the relevance of publication numbers, citation counts, and related indicators as a measure for the quality of science, such indicators still provide a useful gauge of productivity of, and importance to, the nation’s researchers (Gutberlet et al 2018b)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
