ANSTO is Australia’s only nuclear science and technology facility Home of the new OPAL reactor One of the world’s best n

1. ANSTO is Australia’s only nuclear science and technology facility • Home of the new OPAL reactor • One of the world’s best nuclear research reactors

2. The work we do addresses some of the key challenges of our time • Climate change, water resource management, materials engineering & other scientific disciplines • We have the world’s most advanced neutron scattering capabilities

3. ANSTO also produces radiopharmaceuticals • Used by hospitals, GPs and dentists daily • In fact - if you’ve had an X-ray, you’re doctor probably used radiopharmaceuticals from ANSTO

4. Neutron Scattering – Inside one of the world’s best neutron research facilities Professor Michael James August 2010

5. Batteries Areas of Neutron Science Phase Transitions Energy AtomicStructure Nanotechnology ComplexFluids MolecularBiology Engineered Materials Cell Biology Food MagneticMemory

6. Research Reactor vs Power Reactor Power: 20 MW 3000 MW Uranium: 30 kg 100,000 kg Temp: 60 C 100 C Uses: Generates neutrons for Generates steam for Radioisotopes, Si and Science Electricity

7. fissionfragments neutrons energy neutron U-235 Neutrons lose energy by colliding with heavy water (D2O) around the core. This generates heat. What Happens During Fission?

8. ~450 m/s To Here From Here Neutrons travel ~80 m in 0.04 s Cold Neutrons(-250 C)~800 m/s Neutrons: Faster than a speeding bullet Thermal Neutrons(60 C)~2000 m/s (Cherenkov Radiation)

9. X-rays vs Neutrons Neutrons scatter from the nucleus Scattering depends on isotopes:1H (hydrogen: 1e-, 1p+) is different to2H (deuterium: 1e-, 1p+, 1n) X-rays neutrons X-ray scattering depends on atomic number (Z). X-rays scatter from the electron cloud According to neutrons ~99.9999999% of matter is “empty space”

10. Mostly nothing!!! It can be adsorbed. (neutron radiography) Allows us to study materials under extreme environments: Temperature -271 C to 1600 C Pressure: Up to 10,000 atm Magnetic Field:12 Tesla Sometimes, it scatters… This is what we measure in neutron scattering experiments. What Happens When a Neutron Hits Matter?

11. Neutron Instruments Quokka Platypus Wombat Koala Kowari Taipan Echidna Sika Dingo Kookaburra Bilby Pelican Emu

12. Three Axis Spectrometers Neutron Scattering Instruments at OPAL TaipanSika Radiography Dingo NANOSTRUCTURES Polarization Spectrometer Pelican Backscattering Emu High Speed Diffractometer Wombat USANS Kookaburra High Resolution Diffractometer Echidna Reflectometer Platypus Residual Stress Kowari Quasi-Laue Diffractometer Koala ATOMICSTRUCTURES Small Angle Scattering Quokka Bilby

13. New Energy TechnologiesCorrelating Properties with Atomic Structure(Neutron Powder Diffraction) Gives the location of light elements in the presence of heavy metal atoms. Battery Materials Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Hydrogen Storage Monitoring of atomic structure during device application.

14. 5min/run 60hrs 2q 115 20 In-situ Diffraction of Li-ion Battery Cycling Charged Discharged

15. (Stress determination to improve the reliability of critical components) Non-Destructive Testing of Engineered Materials Non-destructive mapping of mechanical stresses. When pipelines get stressed… Welds, joints, hardening, quenching…Metals, alloys and composites… From the production line or after use.

16. Surfactants Stabilised Polymer Emulsions Conducting Polymers Liquid Crystals Materials used in countless industrial preparations are based on molecular nano-composites Neutrons and Nanotechnology BiomolecularInteractions

17. Data in modern digital devices is stored on nanoscale magnetic thin films Nanoscale Thin Films(Neutron Reflectometry) Study of diseases such as cholera, Alzheimer’s, and pneumonia are possible using artificial cell membranes Neutrons can probe both structure and magnetism Vapour given off from explosives can switch-off light-generating molecules called dendrimers

18. Any Questions?