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What is the Bragg Institute?

ANSTO's Bragg Institute is an international leader and centre of excellence in neutron beam and x-ray science.  ANSTO undertakes its activities in these disciplines through the Bragg Institute.

OPAL is a world-class neutron source, with a core neutron flux level more than three times that produced by HIFAR.  Nine instruments (some still currently under construction) at OPAL will be managed by the Bragg Institute.  The instruments will be used to solve problems in physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering, the life sciences and the earth sciences.  Some of the instruments will use "cold neutrons" (neutron beams at temperatures of around -250ºC, i.e. close to absolute zero) for research in areas such as soft matter science and structural biology.  A suite of ancillary equipment will enable studies at different temperatures, pressures and magnetic fields. 

OPAL's neutron flux, together with the overall performance of its neutron beam instruments, is expected to place ANSTO in the top three such research centres in the world.  Hence, OPAL will be a major boost for Australia in the international science community.  The Bragg Institute has already been highly successful in attracting some of the best instrument scientists and researchers from Australia and internationally, including expatriate Australians who will now have the opportunity to work with state of the art facilities at home.