Neutrons Sciences Directorate at ORNL

The Cold Neutron Chopper Spectrometer at SNS

CNCS detector array

Interior of the CNCS detector array.

CNCS is a high-resolution, direct-geometry, multi-chopper inelastic spectrometer designed to provide flexibility in the choice of energy resolution and to perform best at low incident energies (2 to 50 meV). Although the detector coverage around the sample is 1.7 sr, a later upgrade to 3 sr is possible. Experiments at CNCS typically use energy resolutions between 10 and 500 ยตeV. A broad variety of scientific problems, ranging from complex and quantum fluids to magnetism and chemical spectroscopy, are being addressed through experiments at CNCS.

Applications

Schematic of CNCS (larger image).

  • Complex fluids: dilute protein solutions, biological gels, selective absorption of molecules on surfaces
  • Dynamics in confined geometries
  • Magnetism: low-dimensional systems; non-Fermi liquids; frustrated, disordered, or molecular magnets

Funding and development of this instrument was overseen by a university-national laboratory collaboration.