4th International Workshop on Neutron Delivery Systems: Improving neutron guides,optics and more!

After very successful events organised in 2006, 2009, 2012, the Institut Laue-Langevin hosted NDS2015 , the 4th Neutron Delivery System International Workshop in Grenoble from the 28th to 30th of September 2015.

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Fig. 1.

Scientists and engineers from all over the world gathered at ILL to discuss about the latest improvements in neutron transport techniques and, of course, the future!

More than 100 scientists and engineers in this domain met and discussed on how deliver always more useful neutrons to instruments and improve the performances of existing neutron facilities. A great moment to share about scientific outreaches which was also a unique opportunity for the community to meet relevant companies in a dedicated Industrial Exhibition on the workshop site.

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Fig. 2.

Fruitful discussions between scientists, engineers and companies during the industrial exhibition. Bottom picture: booths of the three main Guides Manufacturers.

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Fig. 3.

A. Menelle (CEA), C. Simon (ILL, Ass. Director), J. Beaucour (ILL).

The talks covered most of the scientific and technical fields comprised within neutron transport systems. Among them, there were the ageing of borosilicate mirror substrate and the estimation of their lifetime expectancy in installed neutron guides which are in fact fundamental and historically important topics in this series of workshop. Also, speakers presented improvements obtained on the neutron delivery systems and optics in existing facilities (ANSTO, HANARO, HZB, ILL, ISIS, J-PARC, OPAL, PSI, etc.) as well as innovative guide and shielding systems, especially in the framework of the ESS. Moreover, recent advances in ultra-cold neutron production and transport were presented. The detailed programme is given hereafter and the pdf version of the presentations can be downloaded from the ILL website.1

The success of NDS workshops relies on the combination of the high quality of the scientific and technical talks, as well as the strong commitment of industrial partners. Indeed, it was the opportunity for NDS2015 participants to meet companies of their area of interest. Thanks to the compact size of the industrial exhibition, scientists and engineers could discuss in a relaxed atmosphere about the technical challenges they are facing and how industry could help to solve them. Their working area spanned among neutron guide manufacturing, cryogenics, high precision mechanics and radiation shielding equipment. Both workshop participants and companies reported the success of this forum. To facilitate attendees from young engineers and scientists, it is noticeable that we succeeded one more time to organise NDS workshop free of registration fees thanks to our industrial partners. The NDS organisation team gratefully acknowledges the industrial partners for their support.

Last event of these 3 days of conference, a visit of the ILL facilities through the reactor building and the guide halls was offered to participants. Because the reactor was not running at that time, visitors could have a tour in usually restricted areas, such as the inside of the guide casemates, some metres from the reactor vessel. These places are the heart of the neutron guide infrastructure. It was in addition a good opportunity to discover the newly refurbished H5 guide system.

The community is now looking forward to the next edition in July 2018. It should see the development of innovative neutron mirror substrates and guide geometries.