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

• Three-dimensional visualization and quantification of water content in the rhizosphere A.B. Moradi et al
  New Phytologist 192, 653 (November 2011)
  DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03826.x



• Direct Observation of Local Mn-Mn Distances in the Paramagnetic Compound CsMn_xMg_1-xBr₃ A. Furrer et al
  Physical Review Letters 107, 115502 (September 2011)
  DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.115502



• Dimerization and Charge Order in Hollandite K₂V₈O₁₆ A.C. Komarek et al
  Physical Review Letters 107, 027201 (July 2011)
  DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.027201

More SINQ highlights can be found on the Webpages of the NUM department.