The status of neutron beam utilization in Korea

Abstract

HANARO at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, which reached its first criticality on February, 1995, is a multi-purpose research reactor for application of reactor radiation to a variety of fields such as physics, materials science, biomedical research, irradiation technology, and neutron activation analysis.As for the neutron beam research, 6 horizontal beam ports out of total 7 ports of different types are available, and KAERI has pursued an extensive instrument development program since 1992 based on its long-term development plan for neutron scattering research and required instruments. A High Resolution Powder Diffractometer and a Neutron Radiography Facility are operational since late 1997 and 1996 respectively. A Four-Circle Diffractometer is under commission and a Small Angle Neutron Spectrometer will be operational in late 2000. SANS at cold neutron beam tube will be first operated using liquid nitrogen cooled Be filter and when the cold neutron source becomes available, it will be moved to the guide laboratory with proper modifications.Research work on the instruments in operation was started by the internal and the external users since their full kale normal operation. The number of users and their experiments are increasing continuously. T meet the rapidly increasing demand of external user nationwide, we had to use most of the available institute resources for the on-going development of instruments till last year.In addition to above instruments, a Polarized Neutron Spectrometer, a Triple Axis Spectrometer, and a Neutron Reflectometer for which there is a strong request by external users from universities and industries are under discussion. With the available instruments under operation and the one's under planning, HANARO will provide an excellent combination of neutron instruments to meet the national research demand and the international collaborations, and will be well prepared for the future cold neutrons based research.Starting with the informal users program since 1998, various efforts by internal and external researchers to constitute the Users Group and to find ways to support users has been discussed and it was possible to conduct 3 workshops and 2 winter schoolsannually since 1997. A peer group of 15 members from universities, institutes, and industries was formed in October 1999, and a small trial support program by the ministry of science and technology (MOST) was launched in December 1999.