particle accelerator<\/a> will help drive innovations such as more efficient solar panels, longer-lasting batteries, stronger and lighter materials for transport, more powerful supercomputers, and effective drugs.<\/p>\n1.7 megawatts capacity represents a new neutron scattering operational milestone for the US and will help to solve some of the most difficult challenges in materials science.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the development, Jeff Smith, the Director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, said: “This increase in beam power represents another milestone in the Proton Power Upgrade project, an essential component in enabling new science at the Spallation Neutron Source, including insights into advanced materials for clean energy applications.<\/p>\n
“I commend our staff for their efforts in accomplishing this new record.”<\/p>\n
What research does the Spallation Neutron Source perform?<\/h3>\n
The Spallation Neutron Source was established in 2006 to provide thousands of researchers with advanced scientific capabilities to investigate energy phenomena and materials at the atomic level.<\/p>\n
Spallation Neutron Source generates neutrons by accelerating protons down a 300-metre-long linear particle accelerator, then around an accumulator ring and finally into a liquid mercury target.<\/p>\n
Impacts cause a ‘spall’ of neutrons to be routed to surrounding research instruments. The neutrons scatter off atoms within the materials and are captured by high-speed detectors.<\/p>\n
This allows researchers to study the atomic structure and behaviour of materials.<\/p>\n