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Laboratory for Neutron and Muon Instrumentation (LIN)

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SINQ Upgrade Project

The SINQ Upgrade was started with a planning and design phase in July 2017, with the aim of substantially improving the neutron flux and enabling the study of much smaller sample cross-sections by building on recent progress in the manufacturing of neutron guides. In the period between January 2019 and August 2020, all seven neutron guides feeding the 10 instruments in the neutron guide hall have been replaced entirely. Moreover, improved shielding for fast neutrons has been installed in the neutron guide bunker to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. Both measures together allowed for the realization of measured flux gains ranging from 2–30 depending on the instrument (see Figure: Guide Performance), in excellent agreement with the design specification obtained in simulations.

As part of the SINQ Upgrade, the instruments AMOR, CAMEA, ORION and DMC are also being upgraded. In collaboration with the French Laboratoire Leon Brillouin (LLB), an additional small angle neutron scattering instrument has been transferred from the recently shut-down French neutron source Orphée and is currently being installed. The project was financed by internal PSI funds of around 17 Million CHF (NUM and PSI directorate). The preparation phase was supported by SNF. The project has been finalized in June 2021, offering substantially improved measurement capabilities to the international user community of PSI.

Project Organization

The NUM laboratory LIN was assigned with the management of the overall project that is carried out in a matrix organization, which takes full advantage of expert know-how in instrument design and construction in LIN and instrument scientist in LNS within NUM but also of engineering and administrative competences in other divisions (GFA and LOG) of PSI. The project organigram is shown below. 

The project was lead by Uwe Filges.

Project structure
SINQ Upgrade - Project structure in July 2017

SINQ Upgrade Schedule

Schedule v3
SINQ Upgrade - Time schedule and major milestones

Performance and Background Reduction

The SINQ guide upgrade resulted in intensity gains between 2-30. In addition the background caused by fast neutrons was reduced by a factor 6. The background reduction was realized by addtional shielding walls made of borated mineral cast and borated polyethylen. Verification was done by Bonner Sphere Measurements.

Guide Performance final
SINQ Upgrade - Guide Performance
PE-Wall
New borated PE-wall in the middle of the neutron guide bunker.
Mineral cast
High precision shielding around guides (special developed borated mineral cast)
BSS
Fast neutron background measurements by Bonner Sphere Spectrometer

Impressions from the SINQ Upgrade Program

Overview
Old guides are handled/disassembled remotely by manipulators
Overview
Sector 10 insert
Overview
Guide inserts for sector 10
Overview
Neutron guide hall completely empty (March 2019)
Neutron guides 1
Neutron guide bundle - Aare side (AMOR / SANS-I / SANS-LLB & TASP)
Overview
World record: Biggest guide unit for FOCUS
Overview
DMC and CAMEA guide installation (in July/August 2019)
Overview
New overall vacuum system for the neutron guides
Overview
Test station for the new main shutter
Overview
New overall PSYS system for all instruments
Overview
Compact lead shielding for DMC - benefit: extended detector range
Overview
Guide shielding installation in the neutron guide hall
Overview
New guide shielding for TASP/SANS-I and SANS-LLB
Overview
DMC and CAMEA completed (March 2020)
Overview
SANS-LLB detector tank installation
Overview
New AMOR areal

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Contact

Laboratory for Neutron and Muon Instrumentation
PSI
CH-5232 Villigen PSI
Switzerland
+41 56 310 20 87
Fax: +41 56 310 2939

Head of LIN
Prof. Dr. Marc Janoschek
+41 56 310 49 87
marc.janoschek@psi.ch


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