Neutron scattering instrumentation at low power reactors for science, engineering and education

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Farhi, Emmanuel^{a; *} | Mohamad Idris, Faridah^b | Mohamed, Abdul Aziz^c | Yazid, Hafizal B.^b | Jamro, Rafhayudi^b | Harun Al Rashid, Megat^b | Mohamed Zin, Muhammad Rawi B.^b

Affiliations: [a] Institut Laue-Langevin, BP 156, 38042 Grenoble cedex 9, France | [b] Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Malaysia | [c] Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 476207135; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: We demonstrate that a suite of neutron scattering instruments can be installed on low power reactors from e.g. 0.1 to 1 MW thermal power, including a powder diffractometer, a Laue diffractometer, a neutron imaging station, and small angle scattering machine. For each of these instruments, we estimate the performance using Monte-Carlo ray-tracing simulations with McStas, propose a cost effective design, and a set of applications covering science, engineering and education. In addition, we suggest a few shielding solutions to minimize the background level.

Keywords: Neutron scattering, research reactors, instrumentation, Monte-Carlo simulation, McStas, powder diffraction, imaging, Laue diffraction, small angle scattering

DOI: 10.3233/JNR-160024

Journal: Journal of Neutron Research, vol. 18, no. 2-3, pp. 61-77, 2015