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What are neutron beams?

A neutron is one of the fundamental particles that make up matter.  They are only one-thousandth the size of the smallest atom, yet they can easily travel through centimetres of solid steel.  This uncharged particle exists in the nucleus of a typical atom.  The dipole moment of the neutron can be used in a similar way to X-ray crystallography techniques; however the interaction with the sample is different and can identify different features than X-ray technology would. 

Neutron beams are produced by using supermirrors (800 layers of titanium and nickel) to focus a beam of neutrons down a beam line from the core of the reactor.  The use of this beam of neutrons can reveal to scientists information about the structure of what it is they are sampling (via interactions with the nucleus of the samples atoms).  OPAL is designed to be a neutron factory and the technology of the thermal and cold beam lines (as well as the potential for more to be constructed) ensures ANSTO's position at the forefront of the use of this cutting edge technology. 

The design of the beam lines of OPAL has ensured that minimal gamma interference occurs (a problem in the HIFAR facility).  The location of X-ray equipment within the facility ensures it is a "one stop shop" for research in this area.