IFE - Reisestøtte for synkrotron- og nøytronforskning 2015-2017

JEEP II is at present the only neutron source in the Nordic countries. Many neutron scattering experiments can be carried out using the JEEP II reactor. However for future optimal use of the ESS it is needed also to establish national competence also on experimental techniques not available in Norway or for experiments where the flux at JEEP II is too low, for example in-situ measurements. Funding in this project should cover travel to development methodological competence and to perform experiments at international neutron scattering facilities. Since use of synchrotron radiation is complementary to neutron scattering and both methods are crucial for the final understanding of many materials, we have also included travel costs for experiments at SNBL and other synchrotron facilities. The project has contributed to cover in total 28 trips for experiments and development of competence: (i) 11 trips for neutron scattering experiments at PSI (CH), ISIS (UK) and NIST (US); (ii) 10 trips related to development of competence within neutron scattering, all connected to ESS-activities; and (iii) 7 trips for experiments at synchrotron radiation facilities at SNBL (ESRF, Diamond (UK) and in Brazil. The experiments are basically connected to projects with separate funding, and we expect that each experiment will result in one publication. The trips are related to research activities within: energy materials (batteries, materials for hydrogen storage, materials for solar cells), magnetic materials, thermoelectric materials for energy efficiency and CO2 capture and storage by using clay. The trips for competence development are connected to neutron instrumentation and Norwegian contribution to develope the ESS. The travel grant has contributed to increased use of neutron scattering facilities (in addition to JEEP II) and synchrotron radiation facilities in addition to specific competence development related to IFE's involvment in the ESS project.

IFE har en mer enn 60 års tradisjon for studier av materialer med nøytronspredning og vil være det eneste nøytronanlegget i Norden fram til ESS åpner for eksterne brukere i 2022-2023. JEEP II bidrar til forskjellige typer eksperimenter, spesielt pulverdiffraksjon og SANS. Imidlertid for kommende bruk av ESS trengs det også å bygge nasjonal kompetanse på andre typer eksperimenter hvor det pr. i dag ikke er instrumentering i JEEP II og også avanserte eksperimenter hvor nøytronfluksen ved JEEP II er for lav, for eksempel in-situ type eksperimenter. Det søkes derfor om reisemidler for gjennomføring av eksperimenter og forskningsopphold ved internasjonale nøytronkilder. Planlagte eksperimenter inkluderer: nøytronreflektometri, nøytronavbildning, totalspredning med nøytroner, bruk av avanserte prøveomgivelser som høye gass-trykk og aktiviteter for mest mulig involvering med Europeiske aktører for planlegging og arbeid med ESS-instrumentering.