What the facility does
Research establishing structure-function relationships in a broad range of new materials.
Areas of expertise
The Canadian Neutron and Positron Beam Laboratory carries out neutron diffraction measurements on materials, as a function of temperature and other environmental conditions. These measurements are carried out at wide diffraction angles to characterize structure on the angstrom level, and at small angles to characterize structure on the nanoscale and 10s of nanometer scale. Neutron diffraction is similar to x-ray diffraction, but with several distinct advantages. In particular, neutron diffraction can highlight hydrogen and other light elements within structures and is the most powerful probe of magnetism in solids.
Research services
- Wide angle neutron diffraction in both single crystal and powdered samples as a function of temperature and other environmental conditions
- Small angle neutron diffraction in both single crystal and powdered samples as a function of temperature and other environmental conditions
- Measurements of both neutron diffraction and spectroscopy from materials for demonstration and educational purposes
Sectors of application
- Education
- Energy
- Information and communication technologies and media
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Manufacturing and processing
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized lab | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| MAD: the McMaster Alignment Diffractometer | Triple axis neutron spectrometer (custom designed and built) | The spectrometer has a fixed monochromator angle and an Eulerian cradle for supporting and aligning heavy sample environments. Allows for neutron diffraction studies at wide angles of materials in single crystal and powder form, as a function of temperature and other environmental conditions. |
| MacSANS: the McMaster Small Angle Neutron Scattering Instrument | Small angle neutron diffractometer (custom designed and built) | Employs a large 1m x 1m position sensitive detector and velocity selector. Optimized for structural studies on materials in the 0.5–100 nm range. Allows for neutron diffraction studies at small angles of materials in single crystal, powder form, as well as in liquid state and complex fluid forms. Measurements can be conducted as a function of temperature and other environmental conditions. |
Private and public sector research partners
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
- CanmetMATERIALS (Natural Resources Canada)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA)