Engineering Materials, Geosciences, Archeology & Heritage Conservation and Fast Neutron Applications
In situ, in operando and non-destructive probing with neutrons.
The FLUCO platform will provide sample environment for fluids (including gases, vapour and complex fluids) in neutron scattering experiments in soft matter and life science at ESS.
Fluid samples can come in many forms and phases, and controlling and manipulating the sample is at the heart of most neutron scattering experiments. We are developing sample environment systems to enable experiments on a broad range of samples and with extensive parameter control.
Possible samples we anticipate include the following:
Parameters we anticipate will be of interest include the following:
In situ, in operando and non-destructive probing with neutrons.
Some of the most exciting discoveries in a generation are being made with neutron science.
ESS will enable some areas of life science, medical and pharmacological research to investigate with neutrons for the first time.
A fundamental part of ESS. The Standard Model is not what it used to be.
We have a temperature/magnetic fields/pressure workshop where equipment can be tested and integrated.
In addition, we are working to establish workshops providing soft-matter cells and rheology, additional lab methods, and equipment for a variety of sample preparations.
A number of front-edge solutions are readily available on the market, and we will make use of these.
They include ”neutron friendly” gas, vapour, liquid cells, rotating cylinder, liquid flow, humidity cells, liquid surfaces & high vacuum.
In order to enable maximal impact for the users of the ESS source and instruments, we are developing a range of new sample-environment solutions. These include the following.
We are involved in the FlexiProb project, lead by Bielefeldt University, Technische Universität Darmstadt and Technische Universität München. This is a BMBF-funded sample-environment project, and our role is to ensure standardisation and integratability, making it possible to use this equipment at ESS.
University of Tartu, Estonia, has developed a Laser-Pump-Probe method for the investigation of light-induced processes, such as photosynthesis. The final acceptance test took place in November 2015. The equipment will be used mainly on time-of-flight spectrometers and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) instruments, and was already successfully commissioned on IN5 at the ILL. The figure above depicts this set-up with a sample of purple photosynthetic bacteria. Read more here.
The Estonian agreement is a significant first in a long line of agreements to come.
Roskilde University have developed a 5-position SANS magazine with independent temperature control for the 5 positions.
Part of the laser pump-probe system developed at Tartu University. The sample is a purple photosynthetic bacterium. (Tartu University)