Light in the dark; the new German neutron source FRM-II for science, medicine and industry

Winfried Petry, ZWE FRM-II & Physics Department, Technische Universität München, D-85747 Garching, Germany

Neutrons penetrate easily massive objects. Neutron tomography makes visible the combustion process in Diesel engines on a time scale of milliseconds. Thermal neutrons have wavelengths of typical atomic and molecular distances and they move with similar velocities as Brownian motion. Therefore elastic neutron scattering tells us where the atoms and molecules are, and inelastic neutron scattering tells us how they move. Changes of the neutron spin during scattering reveal molecular magnetism. Due to its isotope dependent scattering strength neutrons are applicable to all material classes, metals, ceramics, polymers, proteins, cell membranes. In other words, neutrons are ideally suited for interdisciplinary material research. Neutrons induce also nuclear reactions, the product of which may be used for industrial purposes like extremely homogeneous semiconductor doping, neutron activation analysis, better radiopharmaca, or to produce intense beams of positrons.

During 2004 the Technischen Universität München has taken into operation the new German intense neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM-II). Routine operation with 14 beam hole instruments started on 29 April 2005. The concept of the compact core, the advanced neutron guide system, the innovative instrumentation, examples of its brightness and in particular first experimental results demonstrating its excellence will be shown.

This neutron source is placed in the centre of the university campus at Garching. Aspects of a large scale user facility being operated by a university and serving national and international needs will also be discussed.

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