SINQ: The Swiss Spallation Neutron Source
Neutron scattering is one of the most effective ways to obtain information on both, the structure and the dynamics of condensed matter. A wide scope of problems, ranging from fundamental to solid state physics and chemistry, and from materials science to biology, medicine and environmental science, can be investigated with neutrons. Aside from the scattering techniques, non-diffractive methods like imaging techniques can also be applied with increasing relevance for industrial applications.The spallation neutron source SINQ is a continuous source - the first of its kind in the world - with a flux of about 1014 n/cm2/s. Beside thermal neutrons, a cold moderator of liquid deuterium (cold source) slows neutrons down and shifts their spectrum to lower energies. These neutrons have proved to be particularly valuable in materials research and in the investigation of biological substances. SINQ is a user facility. Interested groups can apply for beamtime on the various instruments by using the SINQ proposal system.
Recent scientific SINQ highlights:
-
Magnetic Proximity Effect in YBa2Cu3O7/La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 and YBa2Cu3O7/LaMnO3+δ Superlattices
Physical Review Letters 108, 197201 (May 2012)DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.197201
-
Spin density wave induced disordering of the vortex lattice in superconducting La2−xSrxCuO4
Physical Review B 85, 134520 (April 2012)DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.85.134520
-
Vortex Lattice Studies in CeCoIn5 with H⊥c
Physical Review Letters 108, 087002 (February 2012)DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.087002

