Neutron beam utilization at research reactors

Utsumi, Wataru

The present status of the neutron beam utilization at JRR-3 will be introduced. For promotion of neutron beam science, 33 neutron instruments are installed in the reactor hall and in the neutron guide hall. Using these instruments, many experiments of various research fields have been made from the basic science to the industrial applications. Crystal structure analysis is one of the most important issue; precise structure of various important proteins have been clarified and research on hydrogen storage materials, fuel cell lithium battery etc, are very actively made. Imaging by neutron radiography is also very popularly used from the industrial product to agriculture. In 2010FY, 645 proposals were accepted and more than 11,000 (person-day) outside users visited JRR-3 and carried out their experiments. Unfortunately, the JRR-3 has not yet resumed its operation after the Northeast Japan Earthquake in 2011, but we have made great efforts to restart it as soon as possible.