First Neutron Pulse from SNS 145
kebes writes "The $1.4 billion Spallation Neutron Source is nearing completion, and has produced its first neutron pulse. The SNS is a scientific instrument that generates beams of neutrons, which can be used to probe anything from minuscule samples to industrial materials. When fully operational, the facility is expected to host up to 2,000 international scientists annually."
Re:But, what does it do? (Score:3, Interesting)
I.e., the most obviously valuable use of a high-density, high-energy neutron beam is studying heretofore under-investigated fission reactions and adding significant digits to heretofore over-investigated fission reactions. All this stuff about the "commercial benefits" is a cartoonish beard for A-bomb research.
* - the other common scenarios are alpha (helium-nucleus) emission resulting in a decrease of atomic number by 2 and mass number by 4, and beta (electron) emission resulting in an increase of atomic number by 1 and no change in mass number; i.e., we're talking alchemy here, kids.
Re:Can they aim this at..... (Score:3, Interesting)
would require a very high current particle accelerator to produce a very narrow ultra relavistic pion or
muon beam. At these high speed the neutrino decay products of pions would still be very tightly directioned. They could pass straight through the earth, and cause sufficient stimulated fission reactions in remote nuclear materal to cause it to gently (as opposite to explosively) melt down.
Pyroelectric Fusion as Neutron Source? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:How do they make a pulsed neutron beam? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Pyroelectric Fusion as Neutron Source? (Score:3, Interesting)