Spallation Neutron Source

The Spallation Neutron Source is a major research facility in Oak Ridge that generates neutrons by firing high-energy protons at mercury targets. The complex contains multiple experimental stations where researchers examine their samples using the produced neutron beams.

Construction of this complex began in the late 1990s through collaboration among several national laboratories and was completed in the early 2000s. Its opening marked a milestone in neutron research in the United States.

The facility serves as a meeting place for researchers from around the world seeking to understand how materials behave at their smallest scales. Their work here contributes to breakthroughs in medicine, energy, and new materials that shape everyday life.

Access to the research facilities is available to outside researchers, but it requires a formal request submitted through your research institution. The facility provides support for professionals conducting more complex experiments.

The facility uses a special process where protons strike the target in rapid succession, releasing a large quantity of neutrons with each collision. This approach enables the generation of neutron beams with exceptional intensity for examining the finest details of materials.