Bragg Peaks April 2007

OPAL news: After a fuel change, the OPAL reactor resumed operation on 22^nd of February and ran until 10 March. Repairs to components of the cold-neutron source system were completed by 24^th March and initial commissioning tests have been completed. The second stage of the cold-source commissioning is now underway: testing it under different conditions up to full reactor power. In the reactor itself, there is some seepage of light water into the heavy water in the reflector vessel leading to slight impurity of H₂O in the reflector vessel. The impurity level is being monitored carefully to ensure sufficient heavy water quality is maintained. INVAP, the reactor supplier, is holding a design review meeting together with ANSTO in late April to evaluate the various repair strategies being investigated.

Around the instruments:  We are now calling for proposals on the two powder diffractometers - ECHIDNA and WOMBAT - which have successfully collected their first patterns. For more details please look under the instrument section and announcements.

• Echidna and Wombat read more...
• Koala read more...
• Quokka and Platypus read more...
• Taipan read more...
• Ancillary equipment read more...

Announcements: 

• Calls for proposals: deadline 27 April 2007 read more...
• Commissioning of instruments read more...
• Festivities surrounding OPAL, Exhibition in Powerhouse Museum and National Deuteration Facility at ANSTO read more...

Faces: In the last months, the Bragg Institute welcomed four new postdoctoral researchers read more...