ANBUG

On July 20th, 11am-12pm, ANBUG is very happy to host the first in a series of seminars/workshops of general and practical interest to ANBUG members. As we all use neutrons for our experiments, the first seminar focuses on the source of those neutrons.

The talk is entitled:

The OPAL research reactor

presented by Rodney Hall

The OPAL research reactor at ANSTO started operation in 2006. It replaced the HIFAR research reactor which shut down in 2007, in its 50th year. This talk will provide a brief history of HIFAR and then move on to describe the OPAL reactor.  This will include an overview of the operation and utilisation of OPAL including details of some of its main components and systems, and how it provides neutrons to the neutron beam experimental facilities.

Rodney Hall is a Nuclear Analyst working at ANSTO for over 19 years. His role is primarily to provide reactor physics support for the operation and utilisation of the OPAL reactor. Rodney has a background in experimental physics. He completed a Bachelor of Technology Honours degree in Optoelectronics in 1996 from Macquarie University. He joined ANSTO in 2002 initially working with the Sulfide Solutions Research Project, principally working on developing instrumentation for the management of mine waste sites. Then in 2003, he took up a position as Reactor Physicist at HIFAR in its final years of operation and was involved with its conversion from HEU to LEU fuel. After HIFAR was shutdown, he moved to the OPAL reactor to work in the Nuclear Analysis Section.

The zoom details will be emailed to ANBUG members. If you have not received this email, please contact Dr. Ben Mallett (ben.mallett@vuw.ac.nz).

Every 5 years the Australian Government reviews and renews its policy approach to national research infrastructure investment referred to as the “National Research Infrastructure Roadmap”.

We encourage the Australian and International neutron scattering community and the wider Australian research community to get involved by completing the 2021 NRI Roadmap Stakeholder Survey to share how you’re currently using ACNS neutron beam instruments, and what you need in the future.

ACNS would appreciate your input to the survey and provide feedback on your current and future needs for neutron scattering.

To assist you we would like you to consider the following when completing the survey:

-The need to maintain ACNS neutron scattering instruments and supporting infrastructure at world-class standard

-The ongoing need for deuteration in neutron scattering and support for the National Deuteration Facility

-Your requirements from ACNS supporting infrastructure such as sample environments, scientific computing, complimentary equipment (X-ray instruments), data management etc.

-New neutron beam instruments and expansion of ACNS neutron beam instruments including the construction of a 2^nd Neutron Guide Hall

-International travel support program for Australian researchers to facilitate enable access to neutron capabilities not available in Australia

Please note that the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering is part of the “Nuclear Science Facilities (NSF)” NRI (question 10).

Apologies for the short notice – the survey closes on Wednesday 30^th June.

Please complete the survey here: https://2021nriroadmap.dese.gov.au/get-involved/complete-the-survey/

The Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS) and National Deuteration Facility (NDF) have announced their inaugural Impact awards. 

They are offering prizes for explanations of what impacts your results with our facilities have had.  Up to nine prizes, valued at up to $200 are on offer.

For details on how to enter and eligibility visit:

https://www.ansto.gov.au/whats-on/acns-and-ndf-impact-awards

2021 is an important year for ANBUG users as the federal governement will develop the Australian Governement Research Infrastructure Roadmap, ANSTO will develop its Decadal Plan and ACNS is to start up its expansion planning on the Second Guide Hall. Feedback from our ANBUG members is extremely valuable! It is our opportunity to shape Australia’s future research facility that can provide sustainable and state-of-the art support for our research. Because of this, the ANBUG Executive Committee encourages all members and people who care and interested Australian Neutron Science and Technology to participate in this 10 -15 minutes survey.

The survey can be done through the link below

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZD5ZDSB

It will be open for 4 weeks until Friday 2^nd July.

The majority of the questions are intended for ACNS users, but if you are not a previous ACNS user and have suggestions on specific instruments, their resolution or other technical capabilities that you feel are currently missing, then we want to hear from you too!

Please forward this survey to anyone you think may be interested or through relevant networks

If you are interested in joining a specific working group focused on developing new neutron facilities, please email us at secretary@anbug.net.

The Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS) at ANSTO has developed a comprehensive resource in their Sample Environment Handbook.

This manual is designed to give you information about their sample environment equipment to help you choose the best fit for the parameters you want to achieve.

ACNS offers a large range of equipment across multiple neutron beam instruments, which can make choosing difficult, as there are a number of sample environment options to achieve similar parameters on each neutron beam instrument.

The handbook is available at: https://www.ansto.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-01/se_manual_06_01_21-compressed.pdf

Neutron reflectometry is a powerful technique to study thin films with nanometer-scale precision. RefNx is open-source software developed by Andrew Nelson at ANSTO to fit and interpret neutron reflectometry patterns. He has kindly provided a series of video tutorials explaining each step of the process.