A new small angle neutron scattering instrument arrives at SINQ from LLB

In 2018 an agreement between the Laboratoire Léon Brillouin (LLB) and Paul Scherrer Institut has been signed with the aim to jointly operate a new small angle neutron scattering (SANS) instrument at the Swiss spallation neutron source SINQ.

A key aspect of the agreement is to allow French users continuous access to SANS instrumentation after the neutron source Orphée operated by LLB has been shut down at the end of 2019 while at the same time adding a second modern SANS instrument to SINQ’s suite of instruments.

Despite the severe restrictions due to the corona pandemic the new SANS-LLB instrument was transferred to PSI in October. The detector vessel has been already installed at SINQ (upper photo) and vacuum tests are in progress. In addition, the support steel structure for new instrument control rooms above the detector vessel has been erected.

Currently, our colleagues from the LLB are visiting to participate in the installation of the instrument (lower photo).

The installation of the collimation section, the detector, motion control, an upgraded sample table and new polarizer will be carried out in 2021. The commission of the instrument is currently planned for early 2022.