Neutron Scattering Sciences (SNS and HFIR)

The mission of the Neutron Sciences is to safely plan, upgrade, operate, and maintain the world's leading neutron-scattering facilities for studying the structure and dynamics of materials using neutrons. The Neutron Scattering Science Division (NSSD) will ensure that the science carried out at both the SNS and HFIR facilities will be of the highest caliber and provide high impact results for the science community. These facilities number among the world's finest scientific user facilities and will comply with DOE ES&H policies. If the science produced at the SNS and HFIR are to be maximized, then key elements (such as proton beam current, neutron flux, reliability and predictability, number and performance of instruments, number and caliber of staff, performance of ancillary equipment, and strength of the user community) must be optimized with respect to each other. The scope of this FY12 Budget Year FWP covers through the sixth full year of operations for the SNS facility. During this period, SNS will work toward maximizing scientific capability of the facility through accelerator reliability and higher-power operations, update instrumentation and improved neutron efficiencies. In FY 2006, HFIR was moved into the Neutron Sciences directorate and in FY09, the NSSD-HFIR was combined into this FWP. By the end of FY10, 13 instruments will be available in the general user program at SNS and eight instruments at the HFIR. Instrument development will continue in collaboration with teams of potential users to fully utilize the Neutron Scattering Sciences potential. SNS and HFIR will perform neutron in-house research to drive development of techniques and highlight update capabilities in the scientific community. Additionally, the NSSD will continue a high profile outreach and awareness program to ensure that the facilities are used for the broadest range of science programs.