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News Releases Hitting the mark: Spallation neutron target expected to double cold neutron flux
June 23, 2010—All systems are green for the new Mark-III spallation neutron target at the Lujan Center at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Earlier this month, the first proton beam hit the Mark-III target.
The Mark-III has several innovations promising the highest performance yet, especially for cold neutron wavelengths greater than 4 Ångstroms. Used for reflectometry, small-angle scattering, and magnetism studies, cold neutrons will benefit from a new cold beryllium-reflector-filter that is projected to double the usable cold neutron (long wavelength) flux for three instruments.
The Mark-III target was installed in April by a multiorganizational team headed by personnel from the Lab's Accelerator Operations and Technology Division.
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