NRC adds reflectometer to suite of neutron scattering instrumentation

Canadian surface science has received a major boost with the official unveiling of a new reflectometer at the National Research Council's Canadian Neutron Beam Centre (CNBC) in Chalk River ON. The $2.8-million instrument is the result of several years effort by the surface science community, led by the Univ of Western Ontario (UWO).

Funding for the NRC-designed reflectometer was provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (40%), the Ontario government (30%) and NRC (30%). The Ontario Innovation Trust and the Ministry of Research and Innovation funded the Ontario contribution .

The new reflectometer brings to six the number of neutron scattering instruments (spectrometers) located within the NRC portion of the NRU reactor — billed as Canada's largest and most productive big science facility. The NRU reactor is owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd and has more than 2,000 employees. The main floor of the facility housing the suite of spectrometers is operated by NRC, which is the custodian of neutron equipment in Canada. The facility is mostly used by the Canadian academic community.

"This is the result of several years of effort by the surface science community in Canada, led by the University of Western Ontario which has a world class surface science group," says Alastair McIvor, CNBC's research council officer. "It's been 15 years since we've added to our suite of equipment here. Previously, we had to adapt existing equipment for use as a reflectometer. The new instrument is for all types of science for surfaces and surface interfaces."

The reflectometer weighs approximately six tonnes and is shielded in large blocks of lead and wax.

In addition to UWO, the universities that proposed the construction of the reflectometer are: Univ of British Columbia; St. Francis Xavier Univ; Univ of Guelph; Laval Univ; McGill Univ; McMaster Univ; Univ of Québec - Institut national de la recherché scientifique; Memorial Univ; Royal Military College; Univ of Québec at Montréal; Univ of Toronto; and, York Univ.

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