Neutrons at ORNL

What would you hunt for if you knew you could search for scientific publications by the instrument at the Spallation Neutron Source and High Flux Isotope Reactor? https://bit.ly/4iInOEn 🤔🧠💭 Image: five science journals lined up side by side

What’s the best way to wake a giant after a long nap? “Very carefully, and with a lot of planning,” said a grinning John Galambos. He was the project director for the Proton Power Upgrade project, or PPU, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory until his retirement in July after more than 40 years at the lab. “It was an A-team effort that will benefit science and technology development for decades to come.” The “giant” Galambos referred to is the Spallation Neutron Source, the nation’s leading source of pulsed neutron beams for research, which was restarted in June after nine months of upgrade work. The planned outage included the installation and testing of seven additional cryogenic modules and their 28 additional power units, as well as the supporting systems — all designed to increase the power capabilities of the 362-yard-long linear accelerator complex, or linac. The beefed-up linac will initially provide the First Target Station at SNS up to about 40% more power than its original 1.4 megawatts, as much as 2.0 megawatts. More power will produce more neutrons and increase the pace of scientific discovery across a wide range of materials and technologies. To handle the increased power, the accumulator ring and target at the SNS complex were also upgraded with new electronics and supporting systems. Eventually, the linac will also power the SNS’s Second Target Station, or STS, to produce the world’s brightest “cold” neutrons and enable studies of smaller and more complex materials.

#ICYMI Neutrons are far out. 🪐 A team of scientists from nine institutions in government, academia and industry discovered that many kinds of glass, including ones that could be developed for next-generation optical devices, have similar atomic structure and arrangements and can successfully be made in space. Check out the story! NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory Argonne National Laboratory Materials Development, Inc ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Alfred University U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Advanced Photon Source https://lnkd.in/eJb4fQPr

You might know ORNL is home to a research reactor, but did you know the #HighFluxIsotopeReactor produces one of the highest neutron fluxes, or number of neutrons per second, in the world despite its core being roughly 2 feet tall and 15 inches in diameter? Its true! Read more about how scientists use the info they learn from HFIR: https://bit.ly/3lZCRl2

Imagine if cultivated crops were watered as infrequently as forgotten houseplants. 👀 🌱 While many wild plants have adapted to survive drought, most cultivated crops tend to be vulnerable to these natural occurrences. In 2023, the United States experienced significant crop losses, with Texas alone reporting $4.8 billion in damages, of which nearly 80% were attributed to drought, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. To prevent losses of crops to drought and other seasonal hardships, researchers from Budapest, Hungary, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are studying a plant known for its remarkable ability to endure periods of little to no rain. 🔗Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/41ws17e Image: An animation illustrating how the Never Never plant can survive up to 60 days without being watered and make a full recovery once rehydrated. The animation opens on a healthy Never Never before showing how the leaves begin to curl inward the longer the plant goes without being watered. Text on the animation explains that researchers used neutrons at ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source to study how the plant can withstand drought. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory logo appears at the end of the animation and is followed by the Department of Energy's logo.

It was an honor to welcome U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright to Oak Ridge National Laboratory today, along with U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, chair of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.   This was the secretary's first visit to a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory. We were excited to share ORNL’s vital contributions to America’s scientific leadership, energy dominance, and #NationalSecurity. At the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility — home of the world’s first exascale system — we talked about the future of #AI, #quantum, and high performance computing. We toured the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a critical supplier of #isotopes for the nation and a powerful tool for breakthrough science. The day ended at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, where advanced manufacturing capabilities are increasing competitiveness and accelerating innovations for #nuclear and other U.S. industries.   I greatly appreciate Secretary Wright sharing his compelling vision for DOE and the national laboratories. There are many energy challenges ahead, and our scientists and staff continuously make the world a better place.

What is a neutron ambassador? ⚛️ Neutron ambassadors are experienced users who want to become strong advocates of neutron scattering and mentor new users in their region and/or scientific community. Apply to become a neutron ambassador at ORNL 👉 https://bit.ly/4hyvhoP The deadline to apply is Wednesday, February 12 📅

Happy Valentine's Day! 💚 What lucky person do you have your ion today? 👀 ⚛️

This little guy was spotted outside of HFIR trying to become a neutron scattering scientist. Any name suggestions for our newest staff member?📝👀